The shingles vaccine could decrease risk of dementia by 17%, a new study suggests. University of Oxford researchers found that the Shingrix vaccine is linked to a “significantly” lower risk of dementia in the six years after vaccination than the previously-used Zostavax jab, following a study on more than 200,000 people. The finding – which experts say is “convincing” – shows the Shingrix vaccine is linked to at least a 17% drop in dementia diagnoses.
University of Oxford researchers said this equates to five to nine more months of life without dementia for those given the Shingrix jab compared with other vaccines. Both men and women benefited from the newer jab, but the effects were greater in women, the study found. Shingles occurs most often as people get older and is more likely to cause serious problems in older age groups.
Dr Maxime Taquet, academic clinical lecturer in the department of psychiatry at Oxford, who led the study on more than 200,000 people, said: “The size and nature of this study makes 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.
” Dr Taquet said the team’s interpretation of the data is that the jab works to delay dementia rather than prevent it altogether, although more work is needed. On the .