Can the Shingles Vaccine Really Prevent Dementia?

I’ve been reading reports and discussions about the shingles vaccine preventing dementia, and I’ll admit—I got a little excited. The idea that a simple, already-available vaccine might offer protection against dementia is powerful. After all, what could be more hopeful than turning a routine jab into a safeguard for our minds? So I decided to look into it properly. And here’s what I found.

Only Two Peer-Reviewed Studies So Far

Despite the media buzz, there are only two peer-reviewed, evidence-based studies that directly examine the link between shingles vaccination and reduced dementia risk:

• A 2024 Oxford study, published in Nature Medicine, found that people who received the newer Shingrix vaccine had a 17% lower risk of developing dementia over six years.

• A 2025 Stanford-led study, published in Nature, used data from a natural experiment in Wales and found that those who got the older Zostavax vaccine had a 20% lower risk of dementia over seven years.

These are large, well-designed studies involving hundreds of thousands of people. That’s encouraging. But the key word here is “association.”

What the Research Actually Tells Us

Both studies show a statistical link between shingles vaccination and a lower rate of dementia diagnosis. But they don’t prove cause and effect. That means we don’t yet know whether the vaccine is directly protecting the brain—or whether people who choose to get vaccinated are already more health-conscious and less likely to develop dementia for other reasons. Still, scientists have some ideas about why the vaccines might help:

• They prevent reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which causes shingles and may contribute to chronic inflammation in the brain.

• They may boost immune resilience, protecting against some of the age-related decline in brain function.

These are theories, not confirmed mechanisms. But they’re plausible—and worth exploring.

What the Headlines Don’t Say

Many news stories and blogs summarize the Oxford and Stanford research but don’t always explain that this is early, observational science. The idea of a vaccine preventing dementia is a compelling headline—but it’s not yet medical advice.

Importantly, other pieces in the media—including statements from the study authors—emphasize the need for randomized controlled trials to test the link properly. Until then, we should stay curious, not convinced.

So, Should You Get the Shingles Vaccine?

If you're over 65 or otherwise eligible, the Shingrix vaccine is already recommended to protect against shingles and its complications. That’s reason enough. If it turns out to also protect against dementia? That’s a brilliant bonus.

But let’s not jump the gun. More research is coming—and I’ll be watching it closely.

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EVIDENCE

1. Peer-Reviewed Studies

   
   

Taquet, M., Dercon, Q., Todd, J. A., et al. (2024).The recombinant shingles vaccine is associated with lower risk of dementia. Nature Medicine, 30, 2777–2781. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03201-5— Large-scale observational study using health records of over 200,000 people. Found a 17% lower dementia risk in those who received the Shingrix vaccine. Stronger effects seen in women.

Geldsetzer, P., et al. (2025).Shingles vaccination and dementia risk: Evidence from a natural experiment in Wales. Nature.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-00861-2— Used a natural experiment based on age-related rollout of Zostavax in Wales. Found a 20% reduced risk of dementia over seven years in vaccinated individuals. Helped address potential confounding factors.

2. Reports and News Summaries

   
   

National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). (2024, July 25).New shingles vaccine could reduce risk of dementia. https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2024-07-25-new-shingles-vaccine-could-reduce-risk-dementia— Summary of the Taquet et al. study. Highlights potential for public health benefit but notes need for further research.

BMJ. (2025, April 9).Shingles vaccine may help cut dementia risk, study suggests. BMJ, 389, r722. https://www.bmj.com/content/389/bmj.r722— Article covering the Geldsetzer et al. findings. Reiterates that the results are observational and more trials are needed.

GlaxoSmithKline. (2024, July 30).GSK presents new data at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2024. https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/gsk-presents-new-data-at-the-alzheimers-association-international-conference-2024/— Corporate press release presenting findings from the ZOSTER-122 retrospective study. Reported reduced dementia risk with Shingrix, but the data has not been peer-reviewed or published in a journal.