A clever natural experiment in Canada suggests a routine shingles vaccine may do more than prevent rash. Instead, the vaccine could help delay the onset of dementia in later life.
Study: Herpes zoster vaccination and incident dementia in Canada: an analysis of natural experiments. Image credit: uganov Konstantin/Shutterstock.com
A recent study in Lancet Neurology investigated whether eligibility for a live attenuated herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine influenced dementia diagnoses among people aged 70 years and older, using estimates from cohorts born close to the strict eligibility cutoffs, living in Ontario, Canada. The researchers validated these findings using data from multiple Canadian provinces.
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