Abstract
Introduction: Chronic infection with herpes viruses is a potential contributing factor to the development of dementia. The introduction of nationwide shingles (varicella zoster) vaccination in Wales might therefore be associated with reduced incident dementia.
Methods: We analyzed the association of shingles vaccination with incident dementia in Wales between 2013 and 2020 using retrospectively collected national health data.
Results: Vaccinated individuals were at reduced risk of dementia (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.72; 95% confidence interval: 0.69 to 0.75). The association was not modified by a reduction in shingles diagnosis and was stronger for vascular dementia than for Alzheimer's disease. Vaccination was also associated with a reduction in several other diseases and all-cause mortality.
Discussion: Our study shows a clear association of shingles vaccination with reduced dementia, consistent with other observational cohort studies. The association may reflect selection bias with people choosing to be vaccinated having a higher healthy life expectancy.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e12293 |
| Journal | Alzheimer's and Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventions |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 13 Apr 2022 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Alzheimer's disease
- shingles
- vaccine
- vascular dementia
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Access to Document
- Reduced dementia incidence after varicella zoster vaccination in Wales 2013–2020
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