**Did you have chickenpox as a child?**

If you answered yes (and most of us do), you are susceptible to experiencing shingles. Shingles is brought on by the varicella-zoster virus, the very same virus responsible for chickenpox. Once one recovers from chickenpox, the virus remains inactive in the nerve cells. Later in life, should the virus reactivate (dependent on factors such as age, stress, or a compromised immune system), it can lead to shingles. A case of shingles can be quite unpleasant, which is a compelling reason to contemplate receiving a herpes zoster vaccine to avert its onset.

**The vaccine does more than you realize.**

Surprise! The shingles vaccine safeguards you against more than merely shingles. In fact, growing evidence indicates that receiving a shingles shot diminishes your chances of experiencing dementia.

In 2025, researchers from Wales examined a group of older adults who were given the live-attenuated herpes zoster vaccine (Zostavax) compared to another group who did not receive the vaccination. The researchers monitored the participants for an average duration of seven years. During the study, those who received the vaccine were [twenty percent less likely to develop dementia](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40175543/).

**What about Shingrix?**

Zostavax, however, is being superseded by a newer vaccine known as Shingrix, which is founded on recombinant DNA technology. So, does Shingrix also help prevent dementia? It appears that it does. Furthermore, it may even surpass Zostavax in effectiveness. In 2024, a team of British scientists assessed separate groups that received either one of the two vaccines over a six-year study period. The researchers found that the cohort vaccinated with Shingrix exhibited a seventeen percent lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia compared to those who got Zostavax. Through some statistical analysis, the researchers celebrated one hundred sixty-four extra dementia-free days for individuals who [later faced dementia](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39053634/).

Support for the shingles vaccine was reinforced by another report in 2024. A multinational team of scientists systematically appraised and meta-analyzed five studies (including cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional designs) consisting of a total of 103,615 individuals vaccinated against zoster. The review highlighted a consistent correlation between herpes zoster vaccination and a [lower dementia risk](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38687552/).

**How might the vaccine lower dementia risk?**

Researchers remain uncertain about how the shingles vaccine may decrease dementia risk. However, they have formulated several theories:

– **Decrease of viral reactivation:** The shingles vaccine inhibits the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which leads to chickenpox and shingles. VZV may stay dormant in nerve cells, and when it reactivates, it might incite inflammation or damage within the nervous system. Such inflammation or direct infection of the brain’s blood vessels could contribute to cognitive deterioration, potentially resulting in dementia. By preventing shingles, the vaccine might mitigate this risk.
– **Immune system enhancement:** The shingles shot, particularly the recombinant Shingrix, incorporates adjuvants that amplify the immune response. This bolstered immune activity might shield the brain by lessening chronic inflammation or eliminating detrimental proteins, such as amyloid, associated with [Alzheimer’s disease](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26865048/).
– **Inhibition of amyloid formation:** In 2020, researchers from Colorado reported that VZV reactivation might trigger the formation of amyloid proteins, a signature of Alzheimer’s disease. By preventing shingles, the vaccine might constrain this mechanism, [lowering dementia risk](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32332223/).

**Conclusion**

So, if you’re undecided about getting vaccinated against shingles, here’s a gentle nudge in the right direction!

*Marc Arginteanu is a neurosurgeon and author of [Azazel’s Public House](https://amzn.to/3DlvElL).*