ATLANTA — Vaccination against shingles might do more than just prevent a painful rash. New research from Case Western University, presented at IDWeek 2025, shows that the shingles vaccine is linked to significantly lower risks of dementia, heart disease, and death in adults aged 50 and older.
The matched cohort study examined electronic health records from over 174,000 patients across 107 U.S. health systems, tracking outcomes for up to seven years after vaccination. Compared to those who received a pneumococcal vaccine, individuals vaccinated against shingles had a 50% lower risk of vascular dementia, a 27% lower risk of blood clots, a 25% lower risk of heart attack or stroke, and a 21% lower risk of death.
“Shingles is more than just a rash—it can raise the risk of serious problems for the heart and brain,” said presenting author Ali Dehghani, DO, an internal medicine physician. “Our study findings show that the shingles vaccine may help lower those risks, especially in people already at higher risk for heart attack or stroke.”
Shingles results from reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus and mainly affects older adults, potentially causing long-term nerve pain, neurological issues, and vision loss. The Shingrix vaccine, approved in 2017, is recommended for all adults 50 and older, regardless of previous infection or vaccination with Zostavax.
The findings, although not yet published in a peer-reviewed journal, contribute to increasing evidence of broader health benefits from adult immunization.
