Shingrix vaccination associated with reduced dementia risk in older adults

A study of over 500,000 Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 and older found that those who received the Shingrix shingles vaccine had a 24% lower risk of dementia diagnosis over four years. The analysis, led by Kaley Hayes of Brown University, focused on adults entering skilled nursing facilities and compared vaccinated with unvaccinated individuals. The results add to evidence that shingles vaccination may have neuroprotective benefits.

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The study drew on Medicare claims and electronic health records from more than 5,500 skilled nursing facilities nationwide, covering admissions between 2017 and 2022. Of the roughly 510,000 participants, only about 8,800 had received the vaccine. Researchers employed target trial emulation, a statistical approach that mimics randomized clinical trials when such trials are impractical.

Shingrix, introduced in 2017, is currently the only shingles vaccine on the market. Earlier studies using the older vaccine also suggested neuroprotective effects. Hayes noted the findings align with a growing body of evidence that vaccines may offer