Simple vaccine could slash risk of dementia, stroke AND heart disease, study finds – experts urge Britons to get their shingles jab
A major study led by University of Oxford researchers has found that the shingles vaccine may cut the risk of dementia, heart disease, heart failure and stroke, adding to evidence that immunisation could offer protection well beyond preventing shingles itself. Scientists say that if everyone eligible in the UK took up the jab, tens of thousands of deaths could potentially be prevented, prompting experts to urge Britons to get vaccinated. Shingles, caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus, becomes more dangerous with age and can cause lasting nerve pain, hearing loss and blindness, making the wider cardiovascular benefits especially significant for older adults.
The research, published in Nature Medicine, analysed data from more than 70,000 US adults aged 60 and over, comparing those given the newer Shingrix vaccine with those who had received the older Zostavax jab, matching them for factors such as age, sex and existing illness. Shingrix recipients were 10 per cent less likely to develop coronary heart disease and had a 12 per cent lower risk of heart failure over seven years, with men also showing a 12 per cent increase in stroke-free time. In the UK, Shingrix is offered on the NHS to those turning 65, people aged 70 to 79, and those with weakened immune systems; researchers believe the effect may stem from the vaccine boosting the immune system and reducing low-level inflammation linked to age-related disease. Further clinical trials are under way to confirm the findings.
- Shingles vaccine linked to lower dementia, heart disease and stroke risk
- Oxford study of 70,000+ over-60s found up to 12% cardiovascular benefit
- Experts urge eligible Britons to get their NHS shingles jab
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Millions of people in the UK develop shingles, a painful skin rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, which lies dormant in the body and can reactivate later in life, particularly as the immune system weakens with age. To help prevent this, the NHS offers a vaccine, and the newer version, called Shingrix, has gradually been replacing an older jab called Zostavax in vaccination programmes. Beyond the rash itself, shingles can lead to lasting complications such as nerve pain, hearing loss and vision problems, which is why health officials have long encouraged eligible groups to get vaccinated.
Researchers have increasingly been investigating whether vaccines like this might have effects beyond their original purpose, including on conditions such as heart disease, stroke and dementia, which are among the leading causes of death and disability in older adults. Scientists have theorised that vaccines could reduce these risks partly by lowering inflammation in the body, a factor linked to a range of age-related illnesses. This has made it a growing focus for large research teams, including groups at prestigious institutions such as Oxford University.
In the UK, the shingles vaccine is currently offered free on the NHS to people turning 65, those aged 70 to 79, and people with weakened immune systems. Understanding any wider health benefits of the jab matters because it could influence public health advice, vaccine uptake and how healthcare resources are prioritised for older people.