A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that older adults who received the recombinant shingles vaccine (RZV or Shingrix) after entering a skilled nursing facility had a 24% lower risk of dementia over the subsequent four years compared to unvaccinated peers. The analysis utilized Medicare data and health records from over 500,000 adults aged 66 and older admitted to skilled nursing facilities between 2017 and 2022. Among the participants, only 8,843 received the shingles vaccine. After four years of follow-up, dementia developed in 18.8% of vaccinated participants versus 24.6% of those who did not receive the vaccine, suggesting that approximately one in 17 dementia cases might be preventable through vaccination [1].
The researchers employed a target trial emulation approach to approximate the conditions of a randomized clinical trial, acknowledging limitations such as potential confounding factors. Vaccinated individuals tended to be slightly younger and healthier, which could also contribute to a reduced dementia risk. Although the analysis adjusted for these variables, the authors emphasize that further research, including clinical trials, is necessary to determine whether shingles vaccination directly reduces dementia risk. The study’s authors, including lead author Kaley Hayes from Brown University, reported funding from GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Shingrix, while noting that the company had no influence over the study design, analysis, or publication decision [1].
Reference: [1] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260823015013.htm