# Want to Significantly Reduce the Possibility of Dementia: Get the Shingles Vaccine **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 27, 2023, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-significantly-reduce-the-possibility-of-dementia-get-the-shingles-vaccine/984655 "2023-05-27T04:27:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2023, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-significantly-reduce-the-possibility-of-dementia-get-the-shingles-vaccine/984655/61 "2023-05-28T20:55:33Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Didn’t get their shingles shots. lol well done ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-significantly-reduce-the-possibility-of-dementia-get-the-shingles-vaccine/984655/62 "2023-10-02T23:49:56Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I just got the shingles vaccine a couple of weeks ago (I almost started a thread on getting that and Prevnar at the same time) and oof was it a painful reaction, not just massive arm soreness, but a hot lump at the vaccination site that persisted for about four days, and real tiredness. I can’t wait for the second dose in the fall! Second dose achieved today, plus the Covid booster! We don’t do things in half measures here, no, sir. We’ll see, maybe this time will go much easier. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-significantly-reduce-the-possibility-of-dementia-get-the-shingles-vaccine/984655/63 "2023-10-03T03:41:18Z")
> [@Dwayne\_Oxford](#): > > VERY seldom heard shingles in 50-60s…now shingles are common Interestingly, this is correct, although the suggested cause is not. It was anticipated, and a later [study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1177968/) found scientific evidence, that as use of the chickenpox vaccine in children increased, the incidence of shingles would increase, because re-exposure to chickenpox provides protection against shingles. Of course, you need to have had chicken pox in the first place to get shingles, so as more children are vaccinated and grow up without having had chicken pox, incidence of shingles should decrease. Or maybe it’s the broccolini. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-significantly-reduce-the-possibility-of-dementia-get-the-shingles-vaccine/984655/64 "2023-10-03T03:50:19Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > I had the vaccine and had no adverse side effects. This. No side effects whatsoever here. However, my brother had shingles twice before getting the vaccine. The second time he had to take a short leave from work and wander around the house naked, with sheets on the chairs, because he couldn’t stand clothing or the fabric on the chairs. It was bad, bad, bad. Getting the shot was a no-brainer after his experience. This study though? Hmm, questionable. But I can hope it is true. My father passed away from a combination of Alzheimer’s and pneumonia. He couldn’t tell us he was sick. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2023, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-significantly-reduce-the-possibility-of-dementia-get-the-shingles-vaccine/984655/65 "2023-10-03T04:24:13Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > We’ll see, maybe this time will go much easier. Sorry, but nope. Start drinking lots of water now, it helps. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-significantly-reduce-the-possibility-of-dementia-get-the-shingles-vaccine/984655/66 "2025-04-03T17:13:02Z")
There’s been a new study which supports the one that prompted this thread. > **[This vaccine may protect against dementia, as well as a painful herpes zoster...](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/aging/shingles-vaccine-dementia-risk-older-adults-rcna198952)** > > It’s been shown that reactivation of the chickenpox virus can lead to the accumulation of aberrant proteins associated with Alzheimer’s. > The [new research](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08800-x), published Wednesday in Nature, analyzed data from more than 280,000 older adults in Wales and found that people who received the original shingles live virus vaccine were 20% less likely to develop dementia of any type than those who were not vaccinated. > > Previous research has found an association between the [Shingrix shingles vaccine](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03201-5), which replaced the live virus version in 2020, and a lower risk of dementia, especially in women. But that link wasn’t considered as strong because that study design couldn’t account for potential differences between those who were vaccinated and those who were not, such as the possibility that the vaccinated people might have been healthier overall. Shingrex, which targets a tiny bit of viral DNA, turned out to have a longer lasting effect than the original vaccine. > > The new study was possible because of an unusual public health policy in Wales that provided a “natural experiment” to explore the potential impact of the vaccine on dementia risk. With the rollout of the vaccine on Sept. 1, 2013, in Wales, shots were offered to people who were 79 on that date but not given to people who had turned 80. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-significantly-reduce-the-possibility-of-dementia-get-the-shingles-vaccine/984655/67 "2025-04-03T17:51:54Z")
I had the shingles shot a year or two ago. No significant side effects. My mother had shingles, and it was horrible. Get the shot just to avoid that, whether or not it has any connection with dementia, I’d say. ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-significantly-reduce-the-possibility-of-dementia-get-the-shingles-vaccine/984655/68 "2025-04-03T18:55:23Z")
Shingles was well documented during the Roman Empire. What nonsense are you on about? Lol didnt realize this was a zombie thread. Must be the shingles. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-significantly-reduce-the-possibility-of-dementia-get-the-shingles-vaccine/984655/69 "2025-04-03T19:40:21Z")
Look, getting the Shingles vaccine is such a great idea that maybe having it help with dementia is just the sprinkles on the cupcake. Yes, you will likely have flu like symptoms for a half day or maybe all day. VS incredible incurable burning pain the rest of your life. ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-significantly-reduce-the-possibility-of-dementia-get-the-shingles-vaccine/984655/70 "2025-04-03T19:58:31Z")
I had shingles a year or two before I was eligible for the vaccine. I had a mild case and it fucking SUCKED - I was down for about 2 weeks. I got the vaccine the day I was eligible. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-significantly-reduce-the-possibility-of-dementia-get-the-shingles-vaccine/984655.md?page=3)