Jenny, a 50-year-old marketing professional from Cambridge, opted for a shingles vaccination last year driven by a motivation far beyond preventing skin lesions. Having watched three of her four grandparents struggle with the devastating effects of dementia, she views the vaccine as a proactive measure against her own potential cognitive decline. Jenny, who previously suffered a severe case of shingles she described as feeling like being “slapped across the face by a zombie,” is part of a growing cohort of patients motivated by emerging, though not yet definitive, research suggesting a link between the vaccine and reduced dementia risk. With all the distress that brought, she wants to avoid the same fate, having witnessed three of her four grandparents succumb to dementia. According to but dozens of people who contacted, Preventing dementia was at least part of their reason for getting the shots.
This trend has sparked a notable rise in demand at high-street pharmacies across the UK. Major chains have reported substantial growth in vaccination bookings. Boots records indicate that appointments have more than doubled over the last 12 months, following a 30% increase the previous year. Similarly, Superdrug has seen a 41% year-on-year rise in requests. While some patients pay approximately £450 for the full two-dose course—given the vaccine is not free on the NHS for most people under 65—many see it as a worthwhile investment in long-term health. Where bookings are up 41% year on year, a similar trend has played out at Superdrug.
The scientific interest in this connection stems from theories that the varicella zoster virus (VZV), which causes both chickenpox and shingles, may play a role in the onset of dementia. After a primary chickenpox infection, the virus remains dormant in nerve cells. Researchers are investigating whether periodic reactivation or chronic inflammation caused by the virus could contribute to neurodegeneration. Currently, roughly 60 million people live with dementia globally, with projections suggesting this number will surpass 100 million by 2040. In England and Wales alone, the economic burden is expected to hit £90 billion by that year as the condition potentially affects 1.7 million people. And tangles of another protein, tau, form inside the nerve cells, plaques (clusters) of amyloid accumulate between neurons.
Data from several studies support the cautious optimism driving public interest. Research often points to as much as a 20% reduction in dementia risk among those vaccinated, though experts emphasize that these findings represent an association rather than a proven cause-and-effect relationship. Michael Jones, an evidence manager at a dementia charity, noted that while the growing body of evidence is promising, further rigorous data is needed to confirm a direct causal link.
One influential study published in Nature last year utilized a natural experiment in Wales. Eligibility for the Zostavax vaccine was previously restricted by age, creating a distinct divide that allowed scientists to compare dementia outcomes between groups. Researchers at Stanford University found that, among women, dementia rates were 8.5% lower in the vaccine-eligible group over seven years. The mechanism behind why this effect was not observed in men remains a subject of ongoing study.
Further investigation in 2024 involved the newer, more potent Shingrix vaccine. A team at the University of Oxford, including John Todd and psychiatrists Maxime Taquet and Paul Harrison, analysed health records for over 200,000 Americans. Their findings indicated that those who received Shingrix experienced a 17% lower rate of dementia over six years compared to those who received the older Zostavax, equating to approximately 164 additional days without the onset of the disease. The most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, is associated with the abnormal buildup of proteins in the brain.
Professor John Todd, who advises that people over 50 consider the vaccine for its proven effectiveness against shingles, expresses enthusiasm for the potential secondary benefits. He described the prospect of a vaccine serving as a preventative measure for dementia as potentially profound. For individuals like Jenny and 61-year-old engineer Dominic from Dorset, the current uncertainty is outweighed by the desire to take any available precautionary step. “If there’s a potential for this to give me more time without the onset of dementia in 20 years’ time, then God, I’ll take it,” Jenny said. According to “I want to feel as if I’ve done everything I can to try to head it off, in terms of risk factors and preventive measures that are available to me now,”, Jenny. “If there’s a potential for this to give me more time without the onset of dementia in 20 years’ time, then God, I’ll take it.”.
Beyond neuroprotection, recent research suggests the vaccine might provide broader cardiovascular benefits. An August study from the Oxford team highlighted a reduction in the risk of stroke and heart attacks following Shingrix vaccination. While the effect size is considered small, it could have significant public health implications. Despite the excitement, medical professionals maintain that the vaccine is officially approved and intended for the prevention of shingles and its complications, rather than for the treatment or prevention of cognitive disorders.
