Study finds GSK's new shingles vaccine may cut dementia risk

A recent study by researchers from the University of Oxford has indicated that GSK's new recombinant shingles vaccine, Shingrix, may lower the risk of dementia compared to Merck & Co’s (known as MSD outside the US and Canada) shingles vaccine, Zostavax. This research, which was published in Nature Medicine, received funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s (NIHR) Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre.

Shingles, a prevalent but serious ailment triggered by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), affects approximately one in three individuals during their lifetime, according to a 2023 global survey conducted by GSK. In this study, researchers utilized the US TriNetx electronic health records network to compare the risk of dementia in over 200,000 individuals over a span of six years following vaccination with either Shingrix or Zostavax. Additionally, they examined dementia risks for those who received vaccines for other infections, such as flu, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.

The findings highlighted that Shingrix was more effective in reducing the risk of dementia than Zostavax. Moreover, Shingrix also proved to be more protective against dementia than vaccines for other infections. Specifically, the data revealed a 17% decrease in dementia diagnoses within six years after receiving the Shingrix vaccine, translating to roughly 164 or more additional days lived without dementia compared to Zostavax. When compared to other vaccines, the reduction in dementia cases was up to 27%.

The researchers aim to conduct further investigations to understand the underlying mechanisms and potential broader protective benefits of Shingrix against dementia. Professor John Todd from the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Medicine suggested that the association might be due to the VZV infection increasing the risk of dementia or because components within the Shingrix vaccine could have independent positive effects on brain health.

Dementia, a neurodegenerative condition impairing memory, cognitive function, and decision-making capabilities, impacts over 944,000 individuals in the UK. According to NHS England, a significant portion of those with dementia in England remains undiagnosed.

Dr. Maxime Taquet, the study leader and NIHR academic clinical lecturer at the University of Oxford's department of psychiatry, emphasized the potential implications of these findings for older adults, healthcare services, and public health if validated through clinical trials.