Receiving the live-attenuated zoster vaccine (Zostavax) reduced the probability of a new dementia diagnosis by 3.5 percentage points (95% CI 0.6-7.1, P =0.019) over a 7-year period, which corresponded to a 20% (95% CI 6.5-33.4) relative reduction, reported Pascal Geldsetzer, MD, PhD, of Stanford University in California, and co-authors.

A vaccination to prevent horribly painful shingles may offer an extra benefit: New research suggests it might lower the risk of dementia, too.

Several previous studies have suggested that shingles vaccinations might reduce dementia risk, but most could not exclude the possibility that people who get vaccinated might have other dementia-protective characteristics, like healthier lifestyles, better diets or more years of education.