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Shingles Vaccine and Dementia Risk: What 2026 Medicare Studies Show

  • Jul 27
  • 1 min read

Senior receiving a Shingles Vaccine from a healthcare professional to help protect against shingles and support healthy aging.

Recent research is giving older adults another reason to consider the Shingles Vaccine. Two large 2026 Medicare studies found that receiving the Shingrix vaccine was associated with a lower risk of developing dementia. While these studies do not prove the vaccine prevents dementia, the results are encouraging and add to growing evidence that protecting your overall health may also benefit your brain.


A May 2026 analysis of Medicare data involving more than 1.5 million beneficiaries found that people who completed the two-dose Shingles Vaccine series had a 33% lower risk of dementia, a 28% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease, and a 33% lower risk of vascular dementia compared to unvaccinated adults. A second Medicare study published in June 2026 followed more than 500,000 skilled nursing facility residents and found a 24% reduction in new dementia diagnoses among those who received at least one dose of Shingrix. Earlier research from the United Kingdom also reported fewer dementia cases and suggested the vaccine may help slow disease progression.


Although additional research is needed, these findings reinforce current CDC recommendations for adults age 50 and older to receive the Shingles Vaccine. Staying up to date on vaccinations is one important step toward healthy aging.


For individuals already experiencing memory loss or cognitive decline, OCTIHEALTH provides compassionate in-home support, including skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, and caregiver education. Our goal is to help patients remain safe, independent, and comfortable at home.


To learn more about how OCTIHEALTH can support you or a loved one, call (847) 305-3070.


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