Common vaccine linked to 24% lower dementia risk in older adults
The neurologist emphasized that while the data shows a strong correlation, the vaccine is not currently classified as a direct therapeutic treatment for cognitive decline.
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“It’s not at this time considered a treatment,” he noted. “This association is … very, very suggestive, but we can’t say one-to-one it proves that this treats dementia. And this finding, honestly, is kind of like icing on the cake.”
Beyond potential brain health benefits, the primary purpose of the FDA-approved vaccine is to prevent painful shingles reactivations and long-term nerve damage. (iStock)
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chickenpox, according to Mayo Clinic.
After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in nerve tissue near the brain and spinal cord, where it can reactivate decades later as a painful rash with fluid-filled blisters.
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The primary function of the vaccine remains the prevention of the severe nerve pain and rash caused by shingles reactivation.
Shingles can lead to severe complications, including post-herpetic neuralgia, a debilitating condition causing long-term nerve pain that persists after the rash clears, according to Cleveland Clinic.
The FDA recommends the two-dose Shingrix series for adults 50 and older, with specialists emphasizing that early medical assessment is critical for managing cognitive health. (iStock)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends two doses of Shingrix for adults 50 and older, as well as adults 19 and older who are or will be immunocompromised. The vaccine is FDA-approved to prevent shingles and related complications — not to prevent or treat dementia.
The study received funding from GSK, the maker of Shingrix; the authors stated that the company had no role in the study’s design, analysis or publication.
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For individuals concerned about memory loss or family medical history, experts recommend consulting a doctor early.
“The common theme in all of this is the sooner you seek evaluation, the better it is for the treatment,” Sodhi advised. “The treatment is more likely to work the earlier you are in the onset of the disease.”
Khloe Quill is a lifestyle writer with Fox News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of story topics including food and drink, travel, and health.
Article source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/common-vaccine-linked-24-percent-lower-dementia-risk-older-adults