Shingles May Increase Odds of Cognitive Decline

People in general — but particularly older adults — are regularly encouraged to get vaccinated against shingles, an often painful and sometimes disabling disease that can make one’s life miserable. Now research suggests another reason to get vaccinated: There may be as much as a 20% higher likelihood of experiencing cognitive decline following an episode of this viral illness. As reported by HealthDay News, the research study found that odds of cognitive decline following shingles were even higher for men who already carry the APOE4 gene, known to raise the odds for cognitive decline and dementia. (This additionally higher risk was not true for women.) Dr. Sharon Curhan of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston was quoted as saying: “Given the growing number of Americans at risk for this painful disease and the availability of a very effective vaccine, shingles vaccination could provide a valuable opportunity to reduce the burden of shingles and possibly reduce the burden of subsequent cognitive decline.” How might the shingles virus harm the brain? According to Dr. Curhan’s group, it might damage blood vessels in the body and/or brain, harming cognition over time. “We’re evaluating to see if we can identify risk factors that could be modified to help reduce people’s risk of developing shingles,” Curhan said. “We also want to study whether the shingles vaccine can help reduce the risk of adverse health outcomes from shingles, such as cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline.” It is well known that shingles is caused by the same virus that triggers chickenpox in youth, the varicella zoster virus. That virus then goes dormant, but can re-emerge to cause shingles as immune system defenses wane in the senior years. This latest study was funded by GlaxoSmithKline, which makes the Shingrix shingles vaccine, considered the most effective protection against shingles at this time. The study was published in the journal Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy. Note that the Shingrix vaccine is covered by Medicare if you have a Part D prescription drug plan.