![\"Professor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/5276079_4_articleinline_Photo.Sean.Kennelly_202024_20_1_1_.jpg\" "\\"Professor")
Professor Se\u00e1n Kennelly: Newer vaccine may be even more effective.<\/p>\nSarah\u2019s mum has dementia. Her granny had dementia. So did several grandaunts. Worried about her chances of developing a condition that runs strongly through her mother\u2019s side of the family and that currently affects some 69,950 people in Ireland, the 60-year-old is now considering getting the shingles vaccine.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s not the only one. According to Professor Se\u00e1n Kennelly, a consultant in geriatric medicine and director of the Institute of Memory and Cognition at Tallaght University Hospital, an increasing number of people are vaccinating themselves against shingles in an attempt to ward off dementia.<\/p>\n
He and his team at the institute even go so far as to recommend that they do so.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact that the vaccine is extremely effective at preventing shingles in the over 50s is enough reason to get the vaccine in its own right, but studies now show that the shingles vaccine comes with additional neuroprotective effects,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey demonstrate a relationship between getting the vaccine and positive outcomes in terms of reducing the risk of dementia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter someone has chickenpox, VZV remains dormant in their cells but can be reactivated by a period of illness or by the immune system becoming run down,\u201d says Dr Patrick Kelly, a GP and the clinical lead of immunisation in primary care for the Irish College of GPs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen that happens, the virus runs along the nerves to the skin, causing a shingles rash that can appear anywhere. We all have up to a one-in-three chance of getting shingles in our lifetimes, with that risk increasing as we age.\u201d<\/p>\n
Susan O\u2019Dwyer, head of professional services at the Irish Pharmacy Union, outlines how the Shingrix vaccine, the only one available in Ireland and considered to be one of the best, works. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t contain a live form of the virus,\u201d she says. \u201cInstead, it contains a protein found on VZV. So it won\u2019t give you the virus, but it will help your body recognise the virus and mount an immune response to protect you from it in future.\u201d<\/p>\n
The vaccine also contains an adjuvant, which O\u2019Dwyer describes as \u201can immune enhancer that triggers a stronger immune response than the protein could achieve alone\u201d.<\/p>\n
Precisely how the vaccine could protect against dementia is still unknown. \u201cIt could be that by preventing the bioactivation of VZV, inflammation is reduced in the body and in the brain,\u201d says Kennelly. \u201cSystemic inflammation can thicken the blood, increasing the risk of clots, which can cause changes to cognition. By stabilising inflammation, vaccines may also reduce the knock-on consequences of that inflammation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another theory is that the adjuvant in the vaccine confers its neuroprotective effects.\u201cThe adjuvant is a substance mixed into vaccines to train and modulate the immune system to respond appropriately to infection,\u201d says Kennelly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt could be the adjuvant that makes the body better able to ward off dementia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Professor Se\u00e1n Kennelly: Newer vaccine may be even more effective.<\/p>\n
Natural conditions for experiment<\/p>\n
As part of Budget 2027, the Government announced the phased introduction of a shingles vaccination programme. It is due to start in June next year, with immunocompromised people over the age of 65 and gradually expand to include the entire over-65 cohort.<\/p>\n
Wales introduced its shingles vaccination programme in 2013, offering the Zostavax version of the vaccine to people aged between 70 and 79, with those born before September 2, 1933, being declared ineligible for vaccination.<\/p>\n
This age cutoff, says Kennelly, \u201ccreated the natural conditions for an experiment. People on one side of the cutoff got the vaccine, and people on the other didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scientists from California\u2019s Stanford University compared dementia rates in both Welsh groups. They found that receiving the shingles vaccine reduced the probability of a new dementia diagnosis over the following seven years by 3.5%, amounting to a relative decrease of 20%. These effects were stronger in women than in men.<\/p>\n
This Stanford research was the first significant piece of evidence suggesting the shingles vaccine impacted dementia risk. The second was a 2024 Oxford University study analysing the health records of more than 200,000 people who had been vaccinated for shingles. About half had been given Shingrix, and the other half Zostavax.<\/p>\n
Over the next six years, dementia rates were 17% lower in the Shingrix group, with women once again faring better. \u201cThese are credible findings based on a large population sample, and they show that the newer vaccine may be even more effective at lowering dementia risk,\u201d says Kennelly.<\/p>\n
Mark of confidence in the data<\/p>\n
While the results of these studies are exciting, O\u2019Dwyer stresses that the evidence is not conclusive. It proves association, not causation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have not yet determined if it\u2019s the vaccine itself that directly reduces dementia risk,\u201d she says. \u201cUntil causation is established, pharmacists will not recommend the shingles vaccine as a preventative measure against dementia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Believing that it\u2019s \u201cpremature\u201d to state that shingles vaccination helps to prevent dementia, Kelly points to Hiqa\u2019s review of the evidence published in May.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe review acknowledged the
association between shingles vaccination and decreased dementia incidence,\u201d he says. \u201cBut it concluded that further research was needed to establish whether vaccination itself was responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Further research is underway, with clinical trials taking place in Denmark and Finland. Initial data is expected in April 2030.<\/p>\n
Kennelly is hopeful that these trials will provide irrefutable evidence that shingles vaccination effectively lowers dementia rates. He believes the fact that trials are being carried out at all is \u201ca mark of confidence in the data to date. These trials would not be happening unless the existing data was compelling.\u201d<\/p>\n
People currently have to request Shingrix from their GP or local pharmacy and pay a total cost of up to \u20ac490 for the vaccine, which is administered in two doses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a lot of money for older people,\u201d says Kennelly. \u201cMaking the vaccine available for free will definitely reduce the impact of shingles on that older cohort, and it will potentially reduce the impact of dementia, which would result in huge cost savings for the health service.\u201d<\/p>\n
Never too late to reduce risk<\/p>\n
Almost 70,000 people are currently living with dementia in Ireland, and one in 10 is aged under 65.<\/p>\n
Research by Alzheimer\u2019s Europe has calculated that, based on our ageing population, the number of dementia cases here would more than double to 151,092 by 2050.<\/p>\n
The trend is global. Alzheimer\u2019s Disease International predicts that rates will increase dramatically from 55m to 139m worldwide by 2050.<\/p>\n
While Alzheimer\u2019s Society of Ireland does not advise people to have the shingles vaccine specifically to protect against dementia, it advises other strategies to keep the condition at bay.<\/p>\n
The risk factors for dementia include age, genetics, and family history, none of which we can change. However, there are also modifiable risk factors such as diet, smoking, alcohol, and lack of physical activity.<\/p>\n
\u201cUp to 45% of dementia cases can potentially be prevented or delayed by addressing health and lifestyle factors,\u201d says Dr Diane O\u2019Doherty, the interim research and policy manager for the Alzheimer\u2019s Society of Ireland. \u201cHaving annual blood pressure checks and managing blood pressure, treating diabetes, taking regular exercise, prioritising sleep, staying socially and mentally active, quitting smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, and eating a healthy diet can all support better brain health.\u201d<\/p>\n
She emphasises that \u201cit\u2019s never too early, or too late, to take these steps\u201d but adds that midlife is \u201ca particularly critical point\u201d at which we can make positive changes to reduce our dementia risk.<\/p>\n
Kennelly adds that the flu jab can also help protect against dementia. An immune-enhancing adjuvant is also added to the vaccine, and studies show that \u201cgetting the flu vaccine is associated with a 40% lower risk of developing dementia in older adults,\u201d with cumulative effects seen in people who receive the shot consistently over multiple years.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s free of charge for all older adults, and is currently available in GP surgeries and pharmacies. Be sure to get yours this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Know the risks<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what you need to know about chickenpox, shingles and the growing body of research examining whether shingles vaccination could reduce dementia risk.<\/p>\n
Both chickenpox and shingles are caused by a virus called the varicella zoster virus. After a chickenpox infection, some of the virus remains dormant in the body. As the immune system weakens with age, stress or illness, the virus can reactivate and travel down the nerve cells to the skin, where it causes shingles.<\/p>\n
According to the HSE, most people recover from shingles without any problems. However, in some cases, it can cause complications including post-herpetic neuralgia, scarring, muscle weakness and eye problems leading to sight loss.<\/p>\n
There are now vaccines which help prevent shingles. There used to be two vaccines available, Shingrix and Zostavax. The latter was withdrawn because Shingrix was found to be more effective.<\/p>\n
The Shingrix vaccine is currently available for private purchase from GP surgeries and selected pharmacies. It is administered in two doses, given up to six months apart. It does not currently come under the HSE National Immunisation Schedule. People have to request it from their GP or local pharmacy and pay for it privately at a total cost of up to \u20ac490. However, as part of the Budget 2027 announcements, the government has plans for the phased introduction of a shingles vaccination programme. It is due to start with immunocompromised people over the age of 65 and gradually expand to all over 65-year-olds.<\/p>\n
Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of incurable conditions that cause irreversible damage to the brain. There are more than 200 different types and Alzheimer\u2019s is the most common. Almost 70,000 people are living with dementia in Ireland.<\/p>\n
Several credible studies, including one carried out at Stanford University and another carried out at Oxford University, have suggested that the shingles vaccine could help prevent dementia. Clinical trials are now ongoing in Denmark and in Finland to establish whether this is the case.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sarah\u2019s mum has dementia. Her granny had dementia. So did several grandaunts. Worried about her chances of developing…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":669544,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[33970,26054,38459,103,61,60],"class_list":["post-669543","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-health-body","tag-health-life","tag-health-mind","tag-health","tag-ie","tag-ireland"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/669543","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=669543"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/669543\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/669544"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=669543"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=669543"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=669543"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}