Can Shingles Increase Dementia Risk?
Jake Newby
| 3 min read
A new study links the viral shingles infection to a higher long-term risk of cognitive impairment, which is one of the earliest noticeable symptoms of Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), which is in the herpes family. Shingles leads to a painful rash that can occur anywhere on the body and is typically accompanied by symptoms like burning or tingling, sensitivity to touch, itching and in some severe cases, blindness and inflammation of the brain. Pain caused by shingles can continue long after the rash clears up.
VZV is the same virus that causes chickenpox, which most people contract during childhood. But even when the body overcomes chickenpox and it fades away, the virus remains in your body and sometimes becomes active again during adulthood.
Who is at risk of shingles?
According to the CDC, about 1 in every 3 people in the United States will have shingles (or herpes zoster) in their lifetime. Shingles is most common in people over the age of 50.
Your risk of shingles and serious complications increases based on the following factors, according to the CDC:
- Age
- Whether you have medical conditions that keep your immune system from working properly, such as certain cancers like leukemia and lymphoma and HIV infection.
- Whether you take drugs that keep your immune system from working properly, like steroids and drugs given after an organ transplant.
What to know about the shingles vaccine
The shingles vaccine can lower your chances of contracting the disease. Most healthy adults age 50 and over should get Shingrix – a vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration – to prevent shingles. Shingrix became available in the U.S. in 2017 as a stronger, more effective option to the now-discontinued Zostavax vaccine. Shingrix contains the proteins that sit on the outer surface of the shingles infection. It works by teaching the body to recognize and fight off the real virus when it begins to attack the body.
It’s important to get two doses of Shingrix 2 to 6 months apart. Two doses of Shingrix protect against shingles and post herpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication of shingles. Side effects are usually mild and temporary and may include soreness, redness or swelling near the injection.
Could the shingles vaccine delay dementia?
While previous research studying the association between shingles and dementia has yielded mixed results, recent studies have indicated that the shingles vaccine is associated with a reduced risk of dementia.
A July 2024 study published by the journal Nature Medicine examined dementia diagnoses in more than 100,000 people over 65 who got the Zostavax vaccine with about 100,000 65-and-older adults who got the Shingrix vaccine.
Results showed that people who got Shingrix had a 17% lower chance of being diagnosed with dementia in the six years after their shots. The research noted that people who were vaccinated didn’t avoid dementia completely, but their diagnosis did appear to be delayed. On average, the study said, this represents about 164 diagnosis-free days, or about five months more time, in people who were eventually impacted.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) and Blue Care Network members looking to become vaccinated for shingles are not subject to deductibles or coinsurance. It is important to note that not all physicians’ offices carry the shingles shot. You will want to confirm with your primary care provider in advance that the vaccine will be available at their location. Visit this page on the BCBSM website to learn more.
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