All articles tagged with #shingles
A massive analysis of 85 million U.S. patient records reveals a sharp decline in shingles diagnoses among adults born after 1995, coinciding with the introduction of the childhood chickenpox vaccine. While the study shows a strong association, experts emphasize that it does not prove causation and recommend continued use of adult shingles vaccines.
A massive analysis of 85 million U.S. medical records confirms that the 1995 introduction of the childhood chickenpox vaccine has significantly reduced shingles cases in adults under 35. While shingles rates are rising for older cohorts who contracted the virus naturally, younger generations vaccinated as children show a steep decline, with rates dropping by 62% between the mid-1990s and 2000s birth cohorts. This data supports the long-term protective benefits of early vaccination against the varicella-zoster virus.
A large analysis by Epic Research indicates that shingles cases are declining among adults aged 34 and younger, likely due to widespread chickenpox vaccination. While rates are falling for those under 35, they are rising for those over 35, who were less likely to be vaccinated as children. The chickenpox vaccine, introduced in 1995, prevents the varicella-zoster virus infection that can later reactivate as shingles. Experts note that while younger cohorts show lower risk, long-term protection remains unproven. Meanwhile, older adults face higher risks due to natural infection history and immune aging, though shingles vaccines like Shingrix remain recommended for those over 50.
New research suggests exosomes circulating in the blood of shingles patients carry cargo that suppresses nerve growth and keeps pain-sensing neurons overly active, potentially explaining why post-herpetic neuralgia persists for months or years. The study found that exosomes from affected patients differ in protein content and can impair neurite growth in human sensory neurons, indicating a noninfectious mechanism behind chronic pain and offering targets for new therapies. Ongoing work compares exosome cargo from patients who develop lasting pain versus those who recover to pinpoint the exact factors driving the condition.
A large real-world analysis of over 70,000 people found that the Shingrix shingles vaccine was associated with better cardiovascular outcomes than the older Zostavax, including about 9% more time free of cardiovascular disease over seven years and 10% lower risk of heart disease, 12% lower risk of heart failure, and a 12% lower risk of stroke in men; while the results are robust, the study cannot prove causation and more research is needed to confirm a true protective effect.
A US study of more than 70,000 adults aged 60+ found that the latest shingles vaccine was associated with a 9% reduction in overall cardiovascular burden over seven years compared with an older version, including lower risks of heart disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation, with men also showing reduced stroke risk. Researchers stress the findings are observational and do not prove causation, and the mechanisms are not yet known, though immune changes from vaccination may be cardioprotective; more trials are needed.
A US study of about 70,000 adults aged 60+ found Shingrix vaccination was linked to a 12% reduction in cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, heart failure) over 3.5 years, with a 4% reduction by the end of follow-up. While the absolute risk change is small, the potential population impact could be large; if confirmed in randomized trials, the effect would be comparable to taking antihypertensive meds. Researchers are exploring mechanisms (reduced shingles risk or broader immune effects) and more trials are underway.
Shingles can occur even after vaccination, but the shot lowers the severity and duration of acute pain, reduces pain medication use, and, by about 90%, lowers the risk of lingering postherpetic neuralgia. Start antiviral treatment (e.g., valacyclovir) within 24–72 hours of rash onset, and see an ophthalmologist promptly for shingles near the eye. Adults over 50 should get the shingles vaccine unless contraindicated. For long COVID, a COVID vaccine is safe and can prevent future long COVID; recovery is gradual and aided by tailored exercise, good sleep, stress management, and possibly probiotics, with no single magic cure.
Shingles, a reactivation of the chickenpox virus, is increasingly diagnosed in people in their 30s and 40s, with women disproportionately affected. The article follows Francine Jones, 39, and others who describe severe pain and a blistering rash, showing how younger adults can be missed or diagnosed late. Experts say antivirals work best within 72 hours, and rising cases in the US and UK are prompting discussion of causes—from stress and immune changes to shifts in vaccination dynamics—alongside calls for broader vaccination in high-risk groups and attention to overall health as prevention.
Observational studies have repeatedly shown that shingles vaccination is linked with a lower risk of dementia, and recent quasi-experimental designs (e.g., Wales’ vaccine rollout) strengthen the case for a possible causal effect. Yet experts caution that such studies can be biased and emphasize the need for randomized trials to confirm whether vaccination truly prevents or delays dementia. If proven, vaccines could meaningfully reduce dementia burden by curbing shingles-related brain inflammation and by broader immune-system effects, but they are not a cure and results may vary by vaccine type and population. A large trial by GSK is planned to seek a definitive answer.
Blake Garrett, the child actor who played Plug in the 2006 film How to Eat Fried Worms, died on Feb. 8 at age 33 from an accidental fentanyl overdose. He was living in a sober-living home in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the time; his mother had previously said he was diagnosed with shingles the week before, fueling concerns of self-medication. The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner's report, obtained by TMZ, confirmed the overdose.
A personal essay and expert commentary explain why shingles is rising among adults under 50—especially millennial women—often linked to stress and immune strain; while vaccines are typically recommended for those 50+, doctors note younger people should discuss risk and vaccination with their physicians, emphasize early antiviral treatment, and highlight how the condition can be long-lasting and painful.
New research across the U.S. and other countries finds that receiving the shingles vaccine—especially Shingrix—might lower dementia risk in older adults by reducing brain inflammation, though most studies are observational and benefits vary by sex and prior vaccination; vaccination rates are still low despite potential protection.
A new study finds that receiving the shingles vaccine could lower the risk of developing dementia among older adults, potentially preventing about one in 17 dementia cases.
Shingles, a painful reactivation of the chickenpox virus, affects about one in three American adults—especially over 50—producing a blistering rash along nerves; early antiviral treatment can shorten illness and reduce postherpetic neuralgia, and the Shingrix vaccine lowers recurrence and protects those with weakened immunity. The condition can recur, so vaccination and healthy lifestyle are important.