Dementia, which today affects more than 57 million people around the world, represents an urgent and major public health challenge. Now, new research from scientists at Stanford Medicine suggests a more hopeful link. They concluded that being vaccinated for shingles can significantly reduce your risk of developing dementia. The new study suggests that vaccination for their common complication, shingles, could reduce dementia risk by up to 20%. With dementia cases projected to nearly triple to over 150 million by 2050, this discovery may influence future public health strategies.
The number of individuals affected by dementia has surged dramatically, increasing by 117% between 1990 and 2016. This worrying trend highlights the need for preventive strategies that work. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) solidifies the need for an active lifestyle combined with a nutritious diet. They point out that controlling chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure can greatly reduce your chances of developing dementia.
The CDC estimates that the shingles vaccine is more than 90% effective at stopping shingles. In neighboring United Kingdom, the National Health Service (NHS) offers this vaccine at no cost to everyone between the ages of 60-80 years old and to immunocompromised persons. For people getting the vaccine on a private basis, the two-dose course can be about £460. Those who are eligible under the NHS framework will pay closer to £160.
The Stanford study followed close to 300,000 people over seven years. They observed 14,465 participants who had at least one diagnosed case of shingles during the follow up. For those vaccinated, the relative risk of developing shingles was significantly 37.2% lower when compared to those who were not vaccinated.
“What makes the study so powerful is that it’s essentially like a randomized trial with a control group — those a little bit too old to be eligible for the vaccine — and an intervention group — those just young enough to be eligible.” – Pascal Geldsetzer, MD, PhD, MPH
So far, the early results are very encouraging! Experts stress that additional studies are crucial to establish a direct connection between shingles vaccination and reduced risk of dementia. Cutler, a researcher on the study, conceded the compelling evidence. He noted that a randomized controlled trial will be needed to confirm it.
“While this study provides strong evidence of a link between shingles vaccination and lower dementia risk, a randomized controlled trial would be needed to establish a definitive causal relationship. If confirmed, this could shift public health priorities and encourage further research into how vaccines might play a role in preventing neurodegenerative diseases.” – Cutler
In addition, the likely economic and social impact of being a care-worker for dementia only strengthens the case for prevention. The results from this study may encourage public health officials to focus their efforts on improving shingles vaccination among older adults.
“The findings strengthen the case for encouraging shingles vaccination in older adults. If further research confirms the link between the vaccine and lower dementia risk, it could make vaccination an even more compelling public health strategy. Given the high economic and social costs of dementia care, a relatively inexpensive vaccine could prove to be a cost-effective preventive measure.” – (no attribution)
Truth: The CDC reports that the shingles vaccine has never been linked to any serious adverse events. This makes it an appealing option for those who qualify. As researchers urge, conclusions should be drawn with extreme caution until more studies can replicate these associations.
“For now, a good take home point is that shingles vaccines are effective for preventing shingles, which is adequate reason for getting this vaccine if you are eligible. An additional benefit might be protection against dementia,” – Cutler
Leave a Reply