Shingrix Cuts Dementia Risk 24% in 500,000 Older Adults, Study Finds
Updated
Updated · SciTechDaily · Jun 25
Shingrix Cuts Dementia Risk 24% in 500,000 Older Adults, Study Finds
3 articles · Updated · SciTechDaily · Jun 25
Summary
Four-year follow-up of 509,926 U.S. adults aged 66 and older found dementia in 18.8% of Shingrix recipients versus 24.6% of unvaccinated peers after skilled nursing facility stays.
The study used Medicare claims and electronic health records from more than 5,500 facilities between 2017 and 2022, comparing 8,843 vaccinated adults with similar unvaccinated patients through a target-trial emulation design.
Researchers said the association could not prove causation because vaccinated patients were somewhat younger and healthier, though adjustments for those differences did not erase the lower dementia rate.
The findings add to earlier research on older shingles vaccines and suggest a widely used shot may offer possible neuroprotective benefits beyond preventing shingles, pending clinical trials.