Shingles vaccine may lower dementia risk, new study finds

If you’re an older adult, getting vaccinated against shingles could lower your risk of developing dementia.

A new study found that elderly nursing home residents who received at least one dose of the shingles vaccine known as Shingrix, the only shot of its kind available in the United States, were 24 percent less likely to develop dementia over a four-year period compared to those who were not vaccinated, according to results published this week in the peer-reviewed journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

The research adds to the growing body of evidence showing a connection between the viral infection and cognitive decline.