Major new analysis reveals lower dementia risk linked to routine vaccination
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The shingles vaccine could slow the progression of dementia, according to a new Stanford study.
These findings follow previous research that found that older adults who received the vaccine were 20% less likely to develop dementia over the next seven years compared to those who did not receive the vaccine.
“For the first time, we now have evidence that likely shows a cause-and-effect relationship between shingles vaccination and the prevention and treatment of dementia,” Dr. Pascal Geldsetzer, assistant professor of medicine and senior author of the new study, told News Digital.
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A team of scientists used public health data in Wales, where, for several years, eligibility for the shingles vaccine (Zostavax) was based strictly on date of birth.
People born just before the cutoff automatically qualified, while people born just after did not.
A new study suggests that the shingles vaccine may help slow the progression of dementia in people who have already been diagnosed with the disease. (iStock)
This created two large groups of older adults who were almost identical in age, health profile and background, and who differed only in who received the vaccine. This allowed the researchers to compare dementia rates in a way that avoided some of the biases seen in observational studies.
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After the initial analysis in April, researchers dug deeper into the records and found that the vaccine’s benefits extended from the first signs of cognitive decline to the later stages of dementia.
Over the course of nine years, people who received the vaccine were less likely to be diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment.
The researchers found that vaccinated patients with dementia had lower dementia-related mortality rates than unvaccinated patients. (iStock)
Additionally, those who received the vaccine after a dementia diagnosis were significantly less likely to die from dementia over the next nine years, suggesting that the vaccine could slow the progression of the disease.
Almost half of older Welsh people who had dementia at the start of the vaccination program ended up dying of dementia at follow-up, compared to just 30% of those who received the vaccine.
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“There is a growing body of research showing that viruses that preferentially target and hibernate in the nervous system for much of life may be involved in the development of dementia,” Geldsetzer said.
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That includes the chickenpox virus, which stays in the body for life. In old age, it can reactivate and cause shingles and can sometimes trigger inflammation in or around the brain, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Experts say preventing viral outbreaks could also reduce inflammation, which has been linked to dementia risk.
Scientists say randomized trials are needed to confirm whether the shingles vaccine can really slow dementia. (iStock)
The critical limitation of this research, according to the team, is that the health behaviors of those who get vaccinated are different from those who do not.
“We have very little to no information about these behaviors in electronic health records or medical claims data,” Geldsetzer noted.
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For example, researchers do not know patients’ dietary behaviors or physical activity levels.
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“If the shingles vaccine actually prevents or delays dementia (and, with this new study, also appears to have benefits for those who already have dementia), then this would be an enormously important finding for clinical medicine, population health, and research into the causes of dementia,” Geldsetzer emphasized.
News Digital has contacted the makers of shingles vaccines for comment.
Khloe Quill is a lifestyle production assistant at News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of topics including food and drink, travel and health.