Shingrix, The Shingles Vaccine, Could Reduce Your Risk Of Dementia

The new recombinant shingles vaccine, ‘Shingrix,’ is associated with a reduced risk of dementia compared to an earlier shingles vaccine, according to a major new study.

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Shingrix (herpes zoster vaccine (recombinant, adjuvanted)). (Credit: Whispyhistory / CC BY-SA 4.0)

Evidence from a team of scientists at the University of Oxford indicates that the newer shingles vaccine is more protective against dementia compared to the previous shingles vaccine. Both shingles vaccines were associated with a lowered risk of dementia when compared to either the influenza vaccine or the tetanus / diphtheria / pertussis (Tdap) vaccine.

The scientists studied health outcomes of more than 200,000 people who received one of the two different shingles vaccines and found that the recombinant shingles vaccine, Shingrix, reduces dementia by at least 17% more than the older, but now discontinued, live shingles vaccine, Zostavax. Further, they found that Shingrix reduced dementia risk by 23–27% more than did vaccines against other illnesses. This equates to 5–9 months or more dementia-free days of life.

This protective effect was seen in both sexes, but was greater in women.

Interestingly, after the live vaccine against shingles, Zostavax, was introduced in 2006, several studies suggested it might reduce the risk…