All articles tagged with #shingrix
GSK is launching a large study to determine whether the shingles vaccine Shingrix can lower dementia risk, prompted by observational data suggesting vaccinated individuals may have fewer dementia cases; the trial aims to establish causality and could influence dementia prevention strategies if results are favorable.
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 Brown University-led analysis of more than 500,000 Medicare beneficiaries found that older adults who received the Shingrix shingles vaccine after entering skilled nursing facilities had about 24% fewer dementia diagnoses over four years compared with those unvaccinated, though the study cannot prove causation and residual differences between groups may influence results.
A real-world study of 509,926 nursing‑facility residents found that those who received the Shingrix shingles vaccine within 12 months of admission had a 24% lower risk of developing dementia over four years than unvaccinated peers, though the observational design cannot establish causation. Uptake was low (8,843 vaccinated), and researchers note potential neuroinflammatory mechanisms and confounders; the study was funded by GlaxoSmithKline, and Shingrix’s real‑world cognitive benefits add to questions about why vaccines might protect brain health.
A large U.S. Medicare study (1.5 million beneficiaries) found that older adults who received the two-dose recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix) had a lower incidence of dementia than unvaccinated peers, with about a 28–33% reduced risk for any dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular dementia over up to three years and continued protection beyond three years; results are observational and can’t prove causality, but align with other real-world evidence and call for trials to confirm.
Ars Technica, citing The New York Times, reports that the FDA blocked publication of studies on COVID-19 and Shingrix vaccines showing benefits; the CDC reportedly scrapped a separate vaccine study. HHS says withdrawals protected scientific integrity, but critics frame the moves as censorship connected to RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine agenda under his health department.
The FDA reportedly withdrew several studies supporting the safety of COVID-19 and Shingrix vaccines after officials said the authors drew broad conclusions not supported by the data, a move CNBC linked to ongoing Trump-era efforts to scrutinize vaccines; agency scientists analyzed large datasets to assess side effects and said the withdrawal was to protect scientific integrity.
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.
Natural-experiment studies across Wales, Australia, Canada, and the US consistently link shingles vaccination with reduced dementia risk, and newer data suggest that Shingrix may offer larger protective benefits than the older Zostavax—potentially by lowering brain inflammation from varicella-zoster reactivation—though causality and gender differences require further study.
A large study suggests that receiving the shingles vaccine, particularly the newer Shingrix, may be associated with a reduced risk of developing dementia in older adults, possibly due to decreased viral reactivation or immune system effects, though further research is needed to confirm causality.
A large US study suggests that the shingles vaccine (Shingrix) and the RSV vaccine (Arexyv) are associated with a reduced risk of dementia in older adults, potentially due to the immune-boosting adjuvant they contain, indicating vaccines might protect against cognitive decline beyond preventing specific viruses.