Shingles vaccination reduces risk of dementia: New study inspires researchers!

Shingles vaccination reduces risk of dementia: New study inspires researchers!

Research into the prevention of dementia is receiving significant impetus from a new study. Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health have found that a shingles vaccination can reduce the risk of developing dementia by 20 percent. These results were published today in the journalNaturepublished. Dr. Markus Eyting and Dr. Min Xie lead the study, which is based on analysis of health data from Wales, where shingles vaccination has been an established measure since September 1, 2013.

A so-called “natural experiment” was carried out for the study. The researchers examined the health status of people who had been vaccinated shortly before or after their 80th birthday. Those born before September 2, 1933 remained ineligible for vaccination, while those born after that date had access to vaccination. Their analysis shows that those vaccinated were significantly less likely to receive a diagnosis of dementia.

Methodology and results

The method used, a regression discontinuity design, is common in economic research but rarely used in clinical research. This allows scientists to see clear causal relationships rather than just observing correlations. Dr. Eyting sees this as new opportunities for evaluating health measures, which is supported by the study.

Pascal Geldsetzer, senior author of the study from Stanford University, noted that biases were common in previous studies because vaccinated people typically exhibit different health behaviors than unvaccinated people. The specific approach of the study made it possible to minimize this. The results have also been confirmed in other countries such as England, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, where similar vaccination programs have been implemented.

Protective mechanisms and future research

The exact mechanisms by which the shingles vaccine might reduce the risk of dementia are not yet clear. It is possible that autoimmune reactions, chronic inflammation or a strengthening of the immune system through vaccination play a role. Martin Korte from the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research describes the analysis as solid evidence of the connection between viral infection and increased risk of dementia. However, further studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms.

The analysis also shows that women tend to benefit more from the shingles vaccine than men, which may be due to differences in immune response. Many experts, including the study's authors, emphasize that the shingles vaccine could be a cheaper and more efficient method of preventing dementia than other measures.

Overall, this study highlights the relevance of interdisciplinary approaches in which economic methods are integrated into medical research. Dr. Eyting was awarded the European Economic Association's Young Economist Award for his innovative work on discrimination, further reinforcing the promising prospects in the field of health research.