Shingles Vaccine Linked to Reduced Dementia Risk, Especially for Women

A new study published in 'Nature' highlights a potential 3.5% reduction in dementia diagnoses among vaccinated individuals, with stronger effects observed in women.

• The study, led by Stanford University's Pascal Geldsetzer, utilized a natural experiment in Wales, analyzing data from over 280,000 individuals over seven years.
• Findings reveal a 3.5 percentage point reduction in dementia diagnoses among those vaccinated with the live shingles vaccine Zostavax, with women experiencing a stronger benefit at 5.6 percentage points.
• Researchers suggest the vaccine may reduce dementia risk by preventing Varicella-Zoster virus reactivation, which could otherwise lead to neuroinflammation and accelerate cognitive decline.
• Experts emphasize the need for further research to confirm causal links and explore why women appear to benefit more, potentially due to gender-specific immune responses.
• Calls for increased vaccination efforts arise, particularly in Germany, where uptake remains low, with only 7.7% of the population completing the recommended two-dose regimen of the newer Shingrix vaccine.

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