Recombinant Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower Dementia Risk

A U.S. study found that receiving the recombinant herpes zoster vaccine (RZV, shingles vaccine) was associated with a significantly lower risk of developing dementia among older adults admitted to skilled-nursing facilities. Researchers analyzed data from 509,926 Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 years or older who had no prior dementia diagnosis and followed them for up to four years after nursing home admission. Only 1.73% received at least one dose of RZV within 12 months of admission, most after discharge. The estimated 4-year risk of dementia was 18.8% among those who received RZV compared with 24.6% among those who did not, corresponding to a 24% relative reduction in risk (risk ratio 0.76) and an absolute risk reduction of 5.8 percentage points. The protective association was weaker in men and in individuals who had previously received the older live shingles vaccine. Although negative-control analyses suggested some residual confounding may remain, the findings indicate that RZV vaccination during or shortly after skilled-nursing facility admission may be associated with a lower risk of dementia. Source: https://www.acpjournals.org/