Shingles vaccine linked to 24% lower dementia risk in nursing home residents, study shows

A new study of elderly nursing home residents examined the effect of receiving at least one dose of the shingles vaccine Shingrix on dementia incidence over a four year period.

The analysis found that those who were vaccinated were 24% less likely to develop dementia compared with unvaccinated peers, roughly preventing one case of dementia for every 17 vaccinated individuals.

The findings, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, add to evidence linking the shingles virus to cognitive decline and highlight a potential added benefit of the vaccine for older adults.