All articles tagged with #shingles
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.
Lilly announced agreements to acquire Curevo, LimmaTech Biologics and Vaccine Company to broaden its infectious-disease portfolio with vaccine-based prevention for shingles, bacterial pathogens and EBV-related disease, respectively. The deals could total up to $3.83 billion in potential cash payments, contingent on milestones and regulatory clearances, and closing is subject to customary conditions, reflecting Lilly's strategy to prevent disease at the source and address antimicrobial resistance.
Ed Sheeran unveiled a shaved head in an Instagram post to mark a fresh start, and he disclosed he’s dealing with shingles while on hiatus from his Loop Tour, expressing excitement to resume touring and noting his family life.
Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton says his recent weight gain was due to a shingles bout and hunger-inducing side effects from his medications, not the Pringles memes. He’s battled shingles for about eight weeks, has switched meds (and even gotten a Botox injection), and though his eye has been swollen and he’s lost part of an eyebrow, he’s back to workouts as Indiana finishes its season and looks ahead to recovery.
Shingles (reactivation of the varicella zoster virus) is not a mild illness for many: it can cause severe acute pain, long-lasting nerve pain (PHN), and increases the risk of stroke in the following year; antiviral treatment works best within 72 hours, yet vaccination rates remain low in the US and UK, leaving millions exposed and underscoring the need for greater awareness and uptake.
New studies suggest the Shingrix shingles vaccine may be associated with a lower risk of dementia in older adults, with some research indicating about a 50% reduction in risk among vaccinated individuals. In addition to preventing shingles and its serious complications like postherpetic neuralgia, the vaccine may also modestly lower risks of heart attack and stroke. The CDC recommends two doses for adults 50+, with dosing intervals of two to six months, and stronger immune responses are reported in older adults. Side effects are usually mild, and vaccination rates for adults over 60 remain around 35%; more research is needed to establish causality between vaccination and dementia protection.
Emerging data link varicella-zoster shingles reactivations to faster brain aging and increased dementia and stroke risk, prompting researchers to explore whether shingles vaccines and antivirals can protect the brain; findings suggest vaccination may reduce dementia risk and slow aging markers, supporting earlier vaccination and continued boosters to keep the virus dormant.
Doctors urge people over 50 to get up to date on vaccines this March, as aging immune systems raise the risk of serious illness from flu, COVID-19, RSV, and shingles. Key vaccines to consider include the influenza shot, updated COVID boosters, RSV (especially for those 50–74 at risk or over 75), shingles (zoster), pneumococcal, and Td/Tdap boosters; some may also need MMR and varicella based on risk. Vaccines are widely available at primary care clinics, pharmacies, and local health departments, and getting them can reduce hospitalizations and long-term complications. In addition to vaccines, a healthy lifestyle and planning for fall vaccinations are advised.
A Vox explainer reviews growing evidence that the shingles vaccine may slow biological aging and lower dementia risk, based on Welsh natural experiments and biomarker studies; while a 20% reduced dementia risk has been reported and lab data show slower aging, researchers caution that causal links and long-term effects require more funding and trials, and uptake among eligible seniors is still low—even with the newer Shingrix vaccine, whose anti-aging benefits remain unproven.
A recent observational study of nearly 4,000 adults aged 70+ found that shingles vaccination was linked to slower overall biological aging and lower inflammation, suggesting immune-related benefits beyond preventing shingles. However, the study cannot establish causality, and more research—including randomized trials and diverse populations—is needed to confirm these findings and explore health outcomes such as cognitive decline or mortality.
A USC-led study of more than 3,800 Americans aged 70+ found that those who received the shingles vaccine after age 60 scored better on measures of biological aging and showed markers of lower inflammation and slower molecular aging versus unvaccinated peers. The associations persisted after adjusting for demographic and health differences, but the study does not prove causation. The findings contribute to a growing body of observational work suggesting vaccines can have broader health benefits later in life, potentially by reducing virus reactivation and chronic inflammation.
Vaccines not only protect older adults from specific diseases like shingles, R.S.V., and influenza but also offer additional benefits such as reducing the risk of dementia and decreasing hospitalization rates, highlighting their broader health advantages.