Shingles Vaccine Lowers Dementia Risk by 20%

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Getting vaccinated against shingles does more than just prevent a rash; recent research reveals it might also protect your brain health as you age.

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In 2013, Welsh health officials made the Zostavax shingles vaccine available only to people born on or after September 2, 1933. This helped in studying the difference in the two groups of people over time.

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The results from the research reveal that those who received the vaccine showed a 20% lower risk of dementia, with women having a greater benefit than men.

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The virus that causes shingles (varicella-zoster virus) can trigger inflammation throughout the nervous system, infect the blood vessels and increase the risk of stroke and dementia.

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The older Zostavax vaccine, whose use has been steadily decreasing, has been replaced with a newer, much more effective vaccine called Shingrix.

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Shingrix requires two doses given a few months apart, and the healthcare providers advise not to take the vaccine immediately after being affected by other illnesses like the flu or COVID-19.

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Apart from this vaccine, staying socially and mentally active promises brain protection. Controlling blood pressure and managing blood sugar are other key steps in lowering dementia.

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Around 55 million people are affected by dementia. While there is no proper cure yet, these new findings offer a newfound hope in the battle against cognitive decline.

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