Scientists discover shingles jab 'triggers reduction in dementia risk' by 20% in 'profound' milestone ()

<iframe frameborder="0" height="100%" scrolling="no" src="https://www.gbnews.com/res/scraper/embed/?video_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmm-v2.simplestream.com%2Fiframe%2Fplayer.php%3Fkey%3D3Li3Nt2Qs8Ct3Xq9Fi5Uy0Mb2Bj0Qs%26player%3DGB003%26uvid%3D52324188%26type%3Dvod%26viously_id%3DeOnFXiJs57g" width="100%"></iframe><br/><p>New research has yielded evidence that the shingles vaccination reduces the risk of developing dementia by 20 per cent.</p><p>The study, which tracked more than 280,000 older adults in Wales, provides the strongest evidence of a causal link between receiving the vaccine and lower rates of brain disease.</p><h3></h3><br/><p>Researchers took advantage of a vaccination policy from September 2013, which created a natural experiment in Wales. The policy made people born on or after 2 September 1933 eligible for the Zostavax shot, while older individuals missed out.</p><p>This division allowed scientists to compare dementia rates in people born just weeks apart but on opposite sides of the eligibility threshold.</p><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-latest"></div><p><br/></p><p>After accounting for varying vaccination rates among eligible individuals, researchers found the jab led to a 20 per cent reduction in dementia risk, with women experiencing the strongest protective effect.</p><p>"For the first time we are able to say much more confidently that the shingles vaccine causes a reduction in dementia risk," said Pascal Geldsetzer from Stanford University.</p><p>It remains unclear exactly how shingles vaccines might protect against dementia. </p><p>One theory suggests they reduce inflammation in the nervous system by preventing reactivation of the virus.</p><h3></h3><br><img alt="Dementia scan and elderly person" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9a27f4fa71235a7859d87139e30051b2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="f6c22" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/dementia-scan-and-elderly-person.jpg?id=59788477&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-dontmiss"></div><h3></h3><br/><p>Another possibility is that the vaccines induce broader changes in the immune system that are protective.</p><p>These wider effects are seen more often in women, potentially explaining the sex differences observed in the study.</p><p>"If this truly is a causal effect, we have a finding that's of tremendous importance," Geldsetzer added.</p><p>Anupam Jena, a professor at Harvard Medical School, described the implications as "profound".</p><p>Julia Dudley from Alzheimer's Research UK said the study "strengthens the emerging link between shingles vaccination and reduced dementia risk".</p><p>"Although it is still unclear precisely how herpes zoster vaccination lowers the risk of dementia, the implications of the study are profound," Jena wrote in an accompanying article.</p><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-mostread"></div><p><strong>LATEST DEVELOPMENTS </strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/health/dementia-risk-lower-statin-cholesterol" target="_self">Cholesterol-lowering pill taken by over 7 million in UK may 'significantly' reduce dementia risk</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/health/alzheimers-breakthrough-new-blood-test-checks-help-diagnosis" target="_self">Alzheimer’s breakthrough as new blood test checks could help diagnosis disease</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/health/how-to-live-longer-neuroscientist-habits" target="_self">'I'm a neuroscientist - centenarians who enjoy the longest lives have two habits in common'</a></li></ul><h3></h3><br/><img alt="SHINGLES VACCINE" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ab94cf76c86f0bc516d9869828c77c79" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="4f2a1" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/shingles-vaccine.jpg?id=51284597&width=980"/><p>"The vaccine could represent a cost-effective intervention that has public-health benefits strongly exceeding its intended purpose."</p><p>Dementia affects more than 55 million people globally and is the leading cause of death in the UK.</p><p>An Oxford study found an even stronger protective effect from Shingrix, a newer shingles vaccine that has largely replaced Zostavax.</p><p>Maxime Taquet, who led that research, suggested the adjuvants in Shingrix, which enhance immune response, may play a role in its potentially superior protection against dementia.</p><p>Both studies support the hypothesis that shingles vaccination reduces dementia risk.</p></br>