July 25, 2024

New shingles vaccine associated with lower risk of dementia

Shingles is a painful and serious condition afflicting many elderly people. It is caused by the Herpes zoster virus that can flare up in people who previously had chicken pox. After the introduction of a vaccine against shingles (Zostavax) in 2006, several studies suggested that the risk of dementia might be lower in people who had received the vaccine, although the results were not conclusive. In many countries, including the UK, Zostavax has now been withdrawn and replaced by a much more effective vaccine (Shingrix).

A major new study due to be published in Nature Medicine, suggests that this new recombinant shingles vaccine ‘Shingrix’ is associated with a larger reduction in risk of dementia compared to Zostravax, and to vaccines against other kinds of infections.

Journalists came to this SMC briefing to hear the authors of this study discuss their results and its implications.

Speakers included:

Prof Paul Harrison, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Oxford

Dr Maxime Taquet, NIHR Clinical Lecturer, University of Oxford