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Vaccines May Slow Aging, Cut Dementia Risk
3 Feb
Summary
- Shingles vaccine linked to lower dementia risk in older adults.
- Vaccinated individuals show reduced chronic inflammation.
- Shingles vaccine may slow biological aging at a molecular level.
New research indicates that vaccines, especially the shingles vaccine, may have significant benefits for aging and brain health. Studies have observed that individuals vaccinated against shingles appear less likely to develop dementia. This association is supported by findings of reduced chronic inflammation and slower biological aging at a molecular level in vaccinated individuals.
These developments suggest that the immune system's ongoing effort to manage latent viruses, like the one causing shingles, could contribute to inflammation and aging. By preventing reactivations, vaccines may reduce this strain, offering a plausible mechanism for slower aging and a potential reduction in dementia risk.
While the NHS offers the shingles vaccine to specific age groups in the UK (65, and 70-79 year-olds), individuals over 50, particularly those at higher risk or with concerns about brain health, might consider private vaccination. The vaccine is licensed from age 50 and involves two doses costing approximately £240 each, administered six months apart.
