A new studies shows that receiving the shingles vaccine may decrease dementia risk.

The New York Times reported yesterday about a study in the journal Nature that The“found that people who received the shingles vaccine were 20 percent less likely to develop dementia in the seven years afterward than those who were not vaccinated.” Other studies like this have been done and found a decreased dementia risk, but this study was able to rule out “other dementia-protective characteristics, like healthier lifestyles, better diets or more years of education.” These results “provide some of the strongest evidence yet that some viral infections can have effects on brain function years later and that preventing them can help stave off cognitive decline.”

We suggest that shingles vaccines be given at age 50. Shingrix is a 2-vaccine shot regimen with the two doses being given 2 months or more apart. I have seen two memorable patients over my 30 years of doctoring who both had postherpetic neuralgia (after-shingles-nerve-pain) and when they would see me for unrelated issues. They would periodically jump in their seat due to zinging pain in the dermatome that their shingles rash was present years before. Consequently, the week I turned 50 I got my first shingrix vaccine. It is true that you may feel “flu-ish” the day after the shingrix vaccine. But, I urge you to not wait until you have an unencumbered 3-day weekend to get the shingles vaccine. Life happens, time gets away from us. And, not getting the shingrix vaccine may mean that you get shingles before you are vaccinated (as I have seen this scenario countless times).

In this study it “tracked people in Wales who were around 80 when receiving the world’s first-generation shingles vaccine over a decade ago.” So, this study does not specifically address what is the rate of dementia when patients get the shingles vaccine at age 50, but I can appreciate that viral illnesses may increase the strain on the brain and decrease its ability to cognitively function as we age.

​FamilyDoctor.org emphasizes that the best way to prevent shingles is through vaccination. They recommend vaccinating children against chickenpox to reduce their risk, as shingles can only occur in individuals who have previously had chickenpox. ​

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends Shingrix for adults aged 50 and older, as well as for immunocompromised individuals aged 19 and above. Shingrix has been shown to be over 90% effective in preventing shingles and its complications.

I hope this helps.