Shingles vaccines may reduce dementia risk, two large new studies suggest

Two new studies suggest that getting a vaccine to protect against shingles may be beneficial for memory, as some kinds of herpes viruses can hide out in the brain. The first vaccine for shingles was licensed in the United States in 2006, and a stronger vaccine became available in 2017. In clinical trials, the stronger vaccine was 97% effective at preventing shingles compared to the older vaccine’s 65% to 70% effectiveness. Both vaccines work by teaching the body to recognize and fight off the real virus. Two studies have found that the newer vaccine is associated with a lower risk of dementia.