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April 14, 2025—The shingles vaccine can help you avoid rashes and pain that can linger for months or even years. And new research suggests that getting your shot may offer another benefit: a lower risk for dementia.

The shingles vaccination and dementia

A study published in the journal Nature looked at the health records of more than 280,000 older adults in Wales. Those who received the shingles vaccine had a 20% lower chance of being diagnosed with dementia over the next seven years compared to those who didn't. Additionally, this effect was greater for women than for men.

How can researchers say the vaccine may have been directly responsible for reducing dementia risk? Subjects in the study were split into two groups. Those born on or after Sept. 2, 1933, were in one group. Starting in 2013, they became eligible to get the shingles shot. As a result, many opted to get vaccinated. Those born before that date were not eligible for the shot. They were in the other group.

Since both groups were of similar ages, it was assumed that they should have similar dementia risks. So, researchers concluded that the vaccine was likely the cause for the lower risk among the vaccinated group.

How the vaccine might help

This study didn't look at why the shingles vaccine reduced dementia risk. But the researchers have theories about how the shot could offer protection. By preventing the shingles virus, the vaccine might help reduce levels of harmful inflammation in the brain. Or the vaccine may offer other types of immune system protection that help keep dementia at bay.

As for why women got a bigger benefit? Females tend to have stronger responses to vaccines in general. And a stronger response to the shingles vaccine may translate to more dementia risk reduction.

Getting your shingles shot

The potential for a lower dementia risk may be an added benefit to shingles vaccination. But the main reason to get your shot is to reduce your risk for shingles. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it's more than 90% effective.

All adults ages 50 and older should get the shingles vaccine, CDC recommends. You should also get it if you're 19 or older and have a weakened immune system. The vaccine includes two doses, given two to six months apart.

Other vaccines can help you stay healthy too. So brush up on which ones you might need. The protection is worth it.

Sources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Shingles Vaccination." https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/vaccines/index.html.
• Nature. "A Natural Experiment on the Effect of Herpes Zoster Vaccination on Dementia." https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08800-x.