Strong evidence' of lowered dementia risk: the benefits of shingles vaccination

"Shingles is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. If you've had chickenpox, the virus stays in your body and can reactivate later in life as shingles at any age, though most commonly after 50. While caused by the same virus, shingles and chickenpox are not the same illness. They present differently because, while chickenpox is the initial infection, if and when the virus reactivates, it travels along nerve pathways to the skin, producing shingles."

"We have a vaccine that works really well, says Dr Andrew Wallach, ambulatory care chief medical officer at NYC Health + Hospitals. But there is a lot of what I call vaccine fatigue right now. A growing body of evidence also suggests that shingles vaccination may lower the risk of dementia, stroke and heart attack."

"Pain is typically the first symptom. Other symptoms include sensitivity to touch, itching, and a red rash and blisters. People may also experience fever, headache, sensitivity and fatigue. Symptoms typically target one or two areas of skin. While a shingles rash can technically appear anywhere, a stripe of blisters on one side of the body is most common."

Shingles, caused by the varicella-zoster virus that also causes chickenpox, affects one in three Americans. The virus remains dormant in nerve clusters after chickenpox and can reactivate later in life, typically after age 50, causing pain, rash, and blisters. While severe complications are rare, older adults and immunocompromised individuals face higher risks. A highly effective vaccine exists, yet vaccination rates remain low at approximately 35% among adults over 60, attributed partly to vaccine fatigue. Emerging research suggests shingles vaccination may reduce risks of dementia, stroke, and heart attack, providing additional health benefits beyond preventing shingles itself.

Read at www.theguardian.com