Shingles Vaccine May Reduce Dementia Risk

A recent study suggests the shingles vaccine may help reduce the risk of death from dementia. Research published in Nature, along with follow-up findings from Stanford Medicine, indicates the vaccine could also lower the chances of developing dementia in the first place. Scientists say the vaccine may even slow the progression of the disease in people who have already been diagnosed. The findings add to growing evidence linking certain herpes viruses, including the virus that causes shingles, to dementia. With dementia cases expected to rise sharply, potentially affecting up to 42 percent of people over age 55, researchers say these results offer promising new possibilities for both treatment and prevention.