Study shows Shingrix vaccine may delay dementia onset, offering new hope in the fight against cognitive decline.
A recent study suggests that the new shingles vaccine, Shingrix, may offer neuroprotective benefits, potentially reducing the risk of dementia in older adults. The research, conducted by the University of Oxford and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (OH BRC), indicates a significant decrease in dementia diagnoses among those vaccinated with Shingrix compared with an earlier vaccine and other common vaccinations [1]. The findings highlight a promising avenue for reducing the global burden of dementia, a condition that affects millions worldwide.
In a study encompassing over 200,000 participants, researchers compared the incidence of dementia in individuals who received Shingrix with those vaccinated with the earlier shingles vaccine, Zostavax, as well as vaccines for other infections such as influenza and tetanus. The results demonstrated that Shingrix was associated with at least a 17% reduction in dementia diagnoses over six years, translating to an estimated 164 additional days lived without the disease. This protective effect was observed in both men and women, although it interesting to note it was notably more pronounced in women [1].
Longevity.Technology: The implications of these findings are significant, as dementia represents a growing global health challenge. With an aging population, the prevalence of dementia is expected to increase dramatically, placing considerable strain on healthcare systems and caregivers. Preventative measures, such as vaccinations, could play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of this condition. The potential of Shingrix to not only prevent shingles but also to confer protection against dementia offers a dual benefit that could reshape public health strategies.
Dr Maxime Taquet, an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry at Oxford and the study’s lead author, remarked on the importance of the findings: “The size and nature of this study make these findings convincing and should motivate further research. They support the hypothesis that vaccination against shingles might prevent dementia. If validated in clinical trials, these findings could have significant implications for older adults, health services, and public health.”
The study used data from the TriNetX electronic health records network in the US, focusing on the period following the transition from Zostavax to Shingrix in October 2017. By analyzing the health outcomes of more than 100,000 individuals in each vaccine group, the researchers were able to compare the effectiveness of Shingrix against Zostavax and other vaccines, and their analysis revealed that those vaccinated with Shingrix had a 23-27% lower risk of developing dementia compared with those who received flu or tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccines [1]. This suggests that the benefits of Shingrix may extend beyond shingles prevention, potentially offering protection against cognitive decline.
Professor John Todd, a co-author of the study and an expert in Precision Medicine at the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Medicine, emphasized the need to understand the mechanisms behind this protective effect: “A key question is, how does the vaccine produce its apparent benefit in protecting against dementia? One possibility is that infection with the Herpes zoster virus might increase the risk of dementia, and therefore by inhibiting the virus, the vaccine could reduce this risk. Alternatively, the vaccine also contains chemicals which might have separate beneficial effects on brain health.”
The study’s findings, published in Nature Medicine, add to a growing body of evidence suggesting a link between vaccines and reduced dementia risk. Previous research had hinted at the possibility that Zostavax could lower dementia rates, though these results were not definitive. Shingrix, however, appears to offer a more substantial protective effect, raising the possibility that it might play a role in dementia prevention.
Professor Paul Harrison, another key contributor to the study and the OH BRC Theme Lead for Molecular Targets, expressed optimism about the potential implications of the research: “The findings are intriguing and encouraging. Anything that might reduce the risk of dementia is to be welcomed, given the large and increasing number of people affected by it.”
Prevention, of course, is always better than cure. Longevity.Technology reached out to Ronjon Nag PhD, who has previously spoken to us about developing a vaccine for aging.
“Dementia incidence increases with aging, so its great to hear of some dementia protection with the shingles vaccine,” he told us. “In combination with other vaccine concepts such as a cardiovascular vaccine and a pan-cancer vaccine, this will bring us closer to the concept of a true aging vaccine, a strategy that Agemica is working on.”
While this recent study’s results are promising, the researchers caution that further investigation is necessary to confirm the findings and understand the underlying mechanisms. As dementia continues to pose a significant challenge to public health, advancements in preventative strategies, such as the potential neuroprotective effects of vaccines like Shingrix, could offer a much-needed respite in the battle against this debilitating condition, and if the mechanism of action can be explicitly identified, that information could be leveraged in other therapeutic strategies.
[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03201-5
