Could a common vaccine help protect your brain and heart as you age? New research suggests it might

As we age, many of us start thinking more carefully about how to protect both our hearts and our minds. While regular exercise, diet and check-ups play a key role, new medical research suggests that a simple vaccine might also make a difference.

Scientists in the United States have found that a common vaccine may be linked to a noticeably lower risk of dementia and heart disease.

The shingles vaccine, known medically as the herpes zoster vaccine, was the focus of a large study by Case Western Reserve University in the United States. The results were presented at IDWeek 2025, an annual infectious diseases conference in the United States.

Researchers analysed data from more than 174,000 American patients aged 50 and over, drawing on 107 health databases. Participants were followed for between three months and seven years after receiving the shingles vaccine, with outcomes compared to unvaccinated individuals.

The vaccine was associated with about a 50 per cent lower risk of vascular dementia—a type of dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain—and a 25 per cent lower risk of heart attack or stroke.

The findings have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal and remain observational, meaning they show an association rather than proof of cause and effect.

Study author Dr Ali Dehghani, an internal medicine physician at Case Western Reserve, said shingles is more than a skin condition, explaining that it can raise the risk of serious problems for both the heart and brain. ‘Our findings suggest the shingles vaccine may help lower those risks, especially in people already at higher risk of heart attack or stroke,’ he said.

Shingles occurs when the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chickenpox, reactivates after lying dormant in the nervous system for years. Besides causing nerve pain and rash, it can also spark inflammation that affects blood vessels and brain tissue.

Experts believe that by preventing shingles, vaccination may help reduce overall inflammation, offering a layer of protection for both heart and brain health.

Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific officer at the British Heart Foundation, who was not involved in the study, said interest in these potential benefits is growing. ‘Inflammation is a known factor in many heart and circulatory conditions that can lead to heart attacks, strokes and vascular dementia,’ he noted. ‘By preventing shingles, vaccination may also provide some protection.’

Earlier this year, a meta-analysis presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2025 in Madrid examined 19 studies—including observational analyses and one randomised trial—and found that shingles vaccination was linked with about an 18 per cent lower risk of cardiovascular events in adults.

Researchers cautioned that while these findings are consistent, most of the available data are observational and cannot prove causality.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), an estimated 425,000 Australians were living with dementia in 2024, making it the leading cause of death for women and the second leading cause of death for men in Australia.

Experts emphasise that more rigorous studies are needed to confirm how the shingles vaccine might influence dementia and heart disease risk. Still, the growing body of evidence is encouraging.

Dr Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, said vaccination remains an important step for older adults. ‘The vaccine greatly reduces the risk of developing shingles and becoming seriously unwell, so I’d encourage anyone newly eligible to come forward,’ she said.

In Australia, the Department of Health and Aged Care also recommends shingles vaccination as a safe and effective way to prevent serious illness. Under the National Immunisation Program, a free two-dose course of Shingrix® is available for people aged 65 and over, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 50 and over, and adults aged 18 and older with conditions or treatments that increase their risk.

Those who previously received the Zostavax® vaccine should wait at least 12 months before getting Shingrix®.

Health professionals encourage anyone unsure about eligibility to check with their GP or pharmacist.

While not yet definitive, this research adds to evidence that controlling inflammation through vaccination could have wider benefits for healthy ageing.

Anyone eligible for shingles vaccination may wish to discuss its potential advantages with their GP as part of an overall plan for long-term wellbeing.

Key Takeaways

Have you had the shingles vaccine? Did you know it might also help protect against dementia and heart disease? Would findings like this encourage you to get vaccinated, or do you prefer to wait for more research? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you.