Looking to stay healthy? Plenty of research shows that keeping up with immunizations is crucial for your overall wellness. In fact, many medical experts advise prioritizing the shingles vaccine if you're over the age of 50, since your risk of contracting the viral disease naturally increases over time. Shingles, which is caused by the same virus (varicella-zoster virus) responsible for chickenpox, produces painful, itchy skin rashes. Prevention is key—as 30% of people may develop shingles in their lifetime—but a new study in the European Heart Journalsays there are additional benefits to getting the shingles vaccine in your 50s and beyond that researchers are just learning about. Read on to see exactly what this new research found and how it affects you.
RELATED: Major Dementia Discovery: Shingles Vaccine Can Reduce Your Risk by 20%
New research shows a link between the shingles vaccination and better heart health
Staying up-to-date on your shingles vaccine can lower your risk of cardiovascular events—including stroke and heart disease—by a whopping 23%, according to a new study out of South Korea.
Nearly 1.3 million people (ages 50+) were involved in the large-scale review, which analyzed the correlation between cardiovascular health risk and shingles vaccination status over a nine-year period.
Participants included in the study who were vaccinated received a live zoster vaccine, which contains “a weakened form of the varicella zoster virus that causes shingles." Additional factors, such as participants' age, sex, economic status, and lifestyle habits (i.e. smoking, drinking, and exercise), were considered.
The findings were stark:
- People who received the live zoster vaccine had a 23% decreased risk of overall cardiovascular events
- The shingles vaccine led to a 26% lower risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and heart disease-caused mortality
- Receiving the vaccine also resulted in a 22% lower risk of coronary heart disease
“Our study suggests that the shingles vaccine may help lower the risk of heart disease, even in people without known risk factors," explained Dong Keon Yon, PhD, lead study author and a professor at Kyung Hee University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, in a news release.
"This means that vaccination could offer health benefits beyond preventing shingles. A shingles infection can cause blood vessel damage, inflammation, and clot formation that can lead to heart disease. By preventing shingles, vaccination may lower these risks.”
Although the vaccine offers protection for up to eight years, researchers said its efficacy is most viable in the first three years after insertion. Among participants, benefits were strongest in men and people under the age of 60, “probably due to a better immune response."
RELATED: Experts Raise Alarm on The Most Lethal Disease in America: "It's Killing Every 34 Seconds"
Cardiovascular benefits could vary based on the type of vaccine you receive
This study proves there’s a myriad of additional benefits to getting the shingles vaccine. However, it’s important to clarify that people in South Korea received the live zoster vaccine, which isn’t available worldwide. In fact, many countries are replacing this kind with “a non-live, recombinant vaccine, meaning it contains a protein from the varicella zoster virus."
The U.S. offers Shingrix, a two-dose recombinant series that is more than 90% effective in preventing shingles in adults over the age of 49. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Oct. 2017.
“Since the live zoster vaccine is not suitable for everyone, more research on the recombinant vaccine is needed," said Keon Yon. "While we conducted rigorous analysis, this study does not establish a direct causal relationship, so potential bias from other underlying factors should be considered."
Other research shows the shingles vaccine can also reduce dementia risk
Advanced research implies that having shingles can increase your risk of developing dementia later in life. So naturally, experts are curious to discover if a shingles vaccine can also lower your dementia risk.
According to a 2021 study, the answer could be yes. In a group of more than 300,000 adults, aged 70 and older, dementia was less common in those who were vaccinated, compared to those who weren’t.
Meanwhile, another study found that the recombinant shingles vaccine is more effective at lowering dementia risk than the live shingles vaccine.
For anyone over the age of 50, this developing body of research suggests that there are several advantages to staying current with your shingles vaccinations. For personalized recommendations, make sure to talk to your doctor.
