Photo ©iStock/Prostock-Studio(07/02/2026) Providence VA researchers learned older nursing home residents who received a shingles vaccine had a 24% lower risk of developing dementia. The study included data on more than 500,000 people aged 66 years or older who were admitted to a skilled nursing facility for either residential or acute care. When adjusted for other factors such as hip fractures and number of wellness visits, the shingles vaccine was still associated with a 12% lower risk of developing dementia in the four years after vaccination. The researchers hypothesized the protection may be due to reduced neuroinflammation and less accumulation of waste proteins and plaques in the brain. (Annals of Internal Medicine, Jun. 16, 2026)
