A vaccine best known for preventing painful rashes may have a surprising bonus benefit: protecting your brain. A large new study suggests that getting the shingles vaccine may significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia later in life.
Published in the journal Nature, the study followed individuals over a seven-year period and found that those who received the shingles vaccine were 20% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia than those who did not get the shot. It’s one of the strongest pieces of evidence so far that preventing certain viral infections could help defend the brain against age-related decline.
While we tend to think of vaccines as short-term protection against illness, this research points to a more long-term impact—particularly when it comes to brain health. Scientists are increasingly exploring the connection between viral infections and neurodegenerative diseases, and shingles is now high on that list.
Shingles, or herpes zoster, is caused by the same virus that leads to chickenpox in childhood: varicella-zoster. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus doesn’t fully leave the body. Instead, it lies dormant in nerve cells and can reawaken years—even decades—later as shingles. The condition causes burning, tingling, and painful blisters, often concentrated in one part of the body. For some, the pain can become chronic and severely impact quality of life.
But shingles may also have hidden effects that go beyond the skin. Researchers believe that when the virus reactivates, it may cause inflammation or other changes that affect brain tissue. Over time, this could contribute to the development of cognitive disorders like dementia.
That’s where vaccination comes in. By preventing shingles outbreaks in the first place, the body may be shielded from this kind of viral-triggered damage.
Although the current study only tracked participants for seven years, and longer-term effects remain unknown, the findings are encouraging—especially in a world where dementia rates are climbing and effective treatments are still limited.
“This kind of vaccine isn’t just about avoiding a few uncomfortable weeks,” explained one of the study authors. “It could be a meaningful tool in the fight to preserve brain function as we age.”
The shingles vaccine is typically recommended for adults aged 50 and older, and it’s available in most pharmacies and primary care clinics. If you’re in that age group and haven’t gotten the vaccine yet, it may be worth asking your doctor—not just for your nerves, but for your brain as well.
With more studies underway and growing interest in the link between infections and brain health, vaccines may become an unexpected ally in the effort to prevent cognitive decline.
