Latest news with #Shingrix
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Huge Study Reveals 2 Vaccines That Appear to Reduce Dementia Risk
Some immunizations may be quietly protecting us from cognitive decline. How the medicine might do that is a mystery scientists are desperate to solve. A new study on two vaccines for older adults gives us a crucial clue. The retrospective cohort study included more than 130,000 people in the US. It reveals that the shingles vaccine (called Shingrix) and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine (Arexyv) are associated with a reduced risk of dementia compared to the annual flu vaccine. Related: Both Shingrix and Arexyv are recommended for older adults, and they contain the AS01 adjuvant, which helps stimulate the immune system after vaccination. The flu vaccine does not. Because the link to dementia was noticed soon after receiving the jab, it's unlikely that the vaccines' protection from direct viral exposure is behind the dementia link. Instead, the findings from the University of Oxford suggest "that the AS01 adjuvant itself plays a direct role in lowering dementia risk." Within 18 months of receiving just the Shingrix vaccine, participants showed an 18 percent reduction in dementia risk compared to those who received only the flu vaccine. Meanwhile, those who received the RSV vaccine showed a 29 percent reduction in dementia risk compared to the flu vaccine. Participants who received both the Shingrix and the Arexyv vaccine showed a 37 percent reduction in risk. This combined effect was not statistically greater than one vaccine on its own. In other words, protection from two viruses didn't significantly increase the protection against dementia. The findings suggest that some vaccines "protect against dementia through mechanisms unrelated to (or at least in addition to) the prevention of their [target virus]", write the study authors, led by psychiatrist Maxime Taquet from the University of Oxford. If that's true, then certain vaccines may protect against dementia by triggering important pathways in the immune system. The conclusions align with an emerging hypothesis: that dementia is not actually a brain disease but a disorder of the immune system within the brain. Perhaps vaccines can help get that system up and running again, even if a threatening virus never comes along. In recent years, studies have shown that exposure to several common viruses, like those behind cold sores, shingles, mono, pneumonia, and COVID-19, can lead to a higher risk of cognitive decline down the road. Moreover, vaccines seem to reduce that risk by a significant amount. But why that is has remained a mystery. In 2024, for instance, a study from the United Kingdom found that Shingrix delayed dementia onset by 17 percent compared to older, less effective shingles vaccines. At the time, this was interpreted as indicating that the more effective a shingles vaccine is at reducing viral exposure, the more the brain is protected against cognitive decline. This older version of the shingles vaccine (called Zostavax), however, doesn't include the AS01 immune-booster, and that may have influenced the results. In the US, it is generally recommended that adults over the age 50 receive two doses of the shingles vaccine to protect themselves against the varicella-zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chicken pox, and it can lie latent in the brain for years before re-emerging in adults. It is also recommended that adults over age 75 receive the RSV vaccine. Both of these vaccines can protect from dangerous infections, but it seems that may not be all they do. "It is likely that both the AS01 shingles and RSV vaccines provide some protection against dementia," conclude Taquet and his colleagues. "The mechanisms underpinning this protection remain to be determined." Vaccines have saved a staggering 154 million lives around the world in the last half century from deadly viruses. If we're lucky, that's just the tip of the iceberg. The study was published in npj Vaccines. Related News One Dietary Supplement Shown to Reduce Aggression by Up to 28% Do Women Need More Sleep Than Men? Here's The Science. Virus Traces Discovered in The Brain Lining of People With Schizophrenia Solve the daily Crossword
Reuters
6 days ago
- Health
- Reuters
US FDA approves pre-filled version of GSK's shingles vaccine
July 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a pre-filled syringe version of GSK's (GSK.L), opens new tab blockbuster shingles vaccine Shingrix, providing patients a more convenient option to receive the shot, the company said on Thursday. Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash anywhere on the body and can sometimes lead to serious complications such as long-term nerve pain and vision loss. The infection is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a type of herpes virus that remains in patients' bodies after they have had chickenpox and reactivates years later. The previous version of GSK's vaccine required a healthcare professional to mix the powdered form of the virus proteins with a liquid that boosts the immune response, before administration. The new form of Shingrix, which does not require the mixing, was approved based on data that showed both versions were equally effective.
Medscape
14-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
How a Shingles Shot May Guard Against Dementia
New evidence suggests that AS01-based vaccines, beyond their established role in preventing shingles and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), may also reduce the risk for dementia. The supportive data, published on June 25 in the journal npj Vaccines, underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date immunizations, particularly among older adults. 1. Dementia risk dropped after AS01 vaccines. Patients who received the shingles (Shingrix) or RSV (Arexvy) vaccines — both containing the AS01 adjuvant — had a significantly lower risk for dementia over 18 months compared to those who received the flu vaccine, with an 18% lower dementia diagnosis rate for shingles vaccine and a 29% lower rate for RSV vaccine. 2. Even greater protection when both vaccines were used. Receiving both AS01 vaccines was linked to a 37% reduced dementia risk, suggesting a possible additive effect. 3. It's the adjuvant, not the vaccine itself. The consistent protective signal observed in both shingles and RSV vaccine populations points to the AS01 adjuvant as the probable key factor. 4. What's in AS01? A powerful immune combo. The adjuvant includes MPL and QS-21, known to affect brain inflammation and Alzheimer's-related alterations. MPL stimulates immune cells, while QS-21 enhances the immune response. 5. More research needed, but promising. Experts stress that these are observational data and short-term, but the research adds weight to the growing case for broader vaccine benefits, including possible brain protection. Bottom line: While it's too early to change clinical practice, these findings hint that adjuvanted vaccines like Shingrix and Arexvy may do more than prevent infections; they might help guard against dementia, too.
Medscape
03-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Why the Shingles Vax Is Important for Your Cardio Patients
It's a rite of passage — or probably should be — for adults upon reaching 50 years of age: Getting vaccinated for shingles. Currently, the two-dose Shingrix vaccine, which is the only shingles vaccine available in the US, is recommended for adults aged 50 years or older, as well as adults aged 19 years or older who are immunocompromised. The vaccine shouldn't be a hard sell, given the available information about its effectiveness and the risks for shingles, John Pauk, MD, MPH, medical director of Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention, and Antimicrobial Stewardship for Swedish Health Services and Caregiver Health for Providence Swedish in Seattle, said. 'The most important step is remembering to make the time during medical visits to have the conversations as part of preventative care,' he said. The two-dose vaccine could also be more important for patients at risk for cardiovascular problems. Research released last month shows patients who get the vaccine have a 23% lower risk for all cardiovascular disease events, including stroke, heart failure, and coronary heart disease. Those benefits last for up to 8 years, researchers found, and the protective effect was particularly pronounced for men, people younger than 60 years, and those with unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and being inactive. However, in a time of growing vaccine hesitancy, clinicians may worry they'll begin encountering some reluctance among their patients to get the shingles vaccine. Elizabeth Mock, MD, MPH 'It's harder nowadays because there's so much misinformation about vaccines,' Elizabeth Mock, MD, MPH, a member of the board of directors for the American Academy of Family Physicians, said. 'People are more likely to get their medical information from TikTok than they are from their family physician. That's a difficult thing to overcome.' Here's what physicians and other providers may want to consider when speaking to their patients about the importance of the shingles vaccine. Why the Shingles Vaccine Matters Ask any clinician who's cared for a patient with shingles if they'd get vaccinated for shingles themselves, and you're likely to get a hearty 'yes.' Ryan C. Maves, MD, professor of infectious disease and internal medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, celebrated his own 50th birthday by calling to schedule his first dose of the shingles vaccine. 'I've taken care of a lot of shingles over the years,' he said. 'I don't want shingles.' Salisia Valentine, DNP, FNP-C, MSN, RN 'It's just miserable,' agreed Salisia Valentine, DNP, FNP-C, MSN, RN, vice president of Provider Services at American Family Care. 'The ones who've had it are the ones saying, 'Give me the vaccine. This is awful.'' A few points to discuss with patients about the vaccine: It Prevents Nerve Pain As a neurotropic virus, the varicella zoster virus (VZV) is infamous for causing postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). After the painful, itchy rash clears up, pain can linger in the same affected areas for months or, in some cases, years. Between 10% and 20% of patients with zoster develop PHN, and it can have a very serious impact on their lives, Pauk said. However, vaccination is considered more than 90% effective in preventing shingles and PHN in adults older than 50 years with healthy immune systems, according to the CDC. Treatments Are Only 'Variably Effective' While many treatments can be used to manage PHN, there's no standard treatment. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may help people with milder pain, and an antiseizure drug, such as gabapentin or pregabalin, may be more appropriate for managing more severe nerve pain. Even then, treatments are only 'variably effective,' according to Judith O'Donnell, MD, chief of Infectious Diseases at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and professor of infectious diseases at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Judith O'Donnell, MD 'Some people do get reasonable pain control with them, but others do not, and you don't know who those are going to be,' she said. Maximo Brito, MD, MPH, professor of medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, added, 'There are treatments that are available, but I think prevention is much better than treatment.' It Can Reduce the Possibility of Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus If the prospect of nerve pain isn't enough to convince some patients of the benefits of getting vaccinated for shingles, the possibility of vision loss might be. The VZV can reactivate in the ophthalmic branch of the fifth cranial nerve, causing herpes zoster ophthalmicus, which may occur in as many as 10%-20% of herpes zoster cases. According to research, conjunctivitis seems to be the most common involvement, followed by keratitis and uveitis, but a small percentage of people may experience moderate or even severe vision loss, usually caused by corneal scarring. How to Bring Up the Issue O'Donnell suggests clinicians start talking to their patients at well visits before they reach their 50th birthday, when most people become eligible for the two-dose Shingrix vaccine. Then they can give reminders. It may also help to explain that almost everyone born before about 1980 is at risk for shingles because chickenpox was in such wide circulation during their childhood. That means the VZV is dormant in their bodies, waiting to be reactivated. 'Even if we don't know it, we were likely exposed to the chickenpox virus,' Mock said. 'Some people might have been exposed to it and gotten the virus and never gotten sick from it.' Clinicians must be prepared to respond to patients concerns and talk to them about the risk-benefit ratio of the shingles vaccine. 'Take your time, show sympathy, listen, answer questions, and (don't) get defensive,' Brito said. 'If patients decline, keep the lines of communication open around vaccines, and continue to revisit their vaccination status,' O'Donnell said. 'Be willing to talk through it and offer them vaccines even if they say no the first time.' Neha Vyas, MD Neha Vyas, MD, a family medicine physician with Cleveland Clinic, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, said she would encourage other clinicians not to give up on patients who might decline the chance to get vaccinated. 'If you keep talking, the next time they may agree,' Vyas said. Plus, 'this is not something that you have to get yearly,' she added. Maves emphasized the importance of candor when discussing the shingles vaccine with patients, which includes being upfront about the possible side effects. The most common side effects tend to be injection site swelling and soreness, muscle pain, fatigue, and possibly headache, fever, and shivering. He often recommends that patients schedule their vaccines on a Friday or another day before an off day, just in case they do experience some fatigue and muscle pain. 'Just be braced for it. Just be ready for it,' he tells them. Benefits Beyond Shingles Prevention? Eventually, clinicians may also be able to offer additional benefits of vaccination to their patients. Several recent studies have suggested that people may receive other benefits from getting vaccinated for shingles. For example, a recent study published in the European Heart Journal found an association between lower risks of overall cardiovascular events and live zoster vaccination. Meanwhile, the results of a recent study in JAMA that reviewed electronic health records in Australia suggested that herpes zoster vaccination may prevent or delay the onset of dementia. Another study, which was published in Nature , analyzed electronic health record data, this time in England and Wales, and also found that live-attenuated herpes zoster vaccination seemed to have a preventive effect for dementia. However, the live zoster vaccine is not available in the US, with Zostavax having been removed from the market in 2020. That doesn't mean that people couldn't potentially receive similar benefits from the recombinant vaccine that is available here. According to a retrospective cohort study published earlier in 2025 in Vaccine, the rate of dementia was significantly lower in individuals who had received two doses of the recombinant zoster vaccine. More research could be helpful to determine if patients who receive the two-dose Shingrix vaccine could receive other benefits. However, the primary reason to get the two doses of Shingrix, which is shingles prevention, is a worthwhile cause all by itself, Maves said.
Edmonton Journal
18-06-2025
- Health
- Edmonton Journal
Experts call on Alberta to make shingles vaccine more easily accessible for seniors
Article content As Alberta's senior population continues to grow, experts are asking the province to lower the barrier to receive shingles vaccinations. 'It's a kick-you-while-you're-down disease,' said Anjli Acharya, a pharmacist who specializes in vaccines and immunizations. Shingles is a viral infection that can cause painful rashes with blisters on an area of the body. It is caused by the same virus as the chicken pox, which can lie dormant inside anybody who contracted it in the past. Article content The dormant virus can reactivate when someone's immune system becomes compromised due to age, stress, or illness. 'The shingles virus can reactivate because it is sitting on the nerve ending of any of us that have had chicken pox in the past,' Acharya said. One in four people will likely contract the virus once they reach 50. By the age of 80, the risk increases to a one-in-two chance. This inflammatory infection can also exacerbate conditions including diabetes, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and heart disease. Shingles vaccinations like Shingrix help prevent complications that stem from contracting the virus. This includes post-hepatic neuralgia, a nerve condition that can occur following a shingles infection. In Alberta, the vaccine is not covered for seniors. Two doses of Shingrix in Alberta would cost $360 for the full series of treatment separated over six months. Article content Acharya has never heard why the provincial government will not cover the vaccine, which is often a challenge for the subset of individuals who cannot afford it. 'From a socioeconomic perspective, a vaccine at this cost will often put individuals that have other determinants of health at higher risk,' she said. 'From a clinical perspective, I would really prefer that everyone have shingles vaccine coverage because those patients, who are more vulnerable, higher risk, have chronic disease, or are living on a fixed income are less likely to afford the shingles vaccine.' President of CanAge, Laura Tamblyn Watts, said with increased costs of living and many seniors on fixed living, the cost of Shingrix is more than what people can afford. 'We know the single biggest deterrent for getting a vaccine like Shingrix is simply the cost,' Watts said. Article content If the shingles vaccine becomes easily available in the province, Watts said this can prevent seniors from making trips to the hospital due to the virus. Currently, it is estimated around 60 per cent of Alberta's senior population has not been inoculated. 'Across the country, we're having more older people, so even if that percentage stayed the same, the real number of people we have to treat with shingles is going to rise,' Watts said. From working with seniors, community groups, and health-care organizations, Watts said the people need to convey their need for the vaccine to elected officials. 'It is important that you write to your local representative, and it's important that you tell the premier, that this is a priority,' she said. The shingles vaccine is funded in Alberta for adults who are pre- or post-solid organ transplant or post-stem cell transplant, since they are at higher risk for complications. Article content 'Alberta Primary and Preventative Health Services considers several factors when determining vaccine funding, including a disease's epidemiology, vaccine effectiveness for specific age groups, cost, and the resources needed for an immunization program,' Maddison McKee of the office of the Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services. While the vaccine is safe and effective, shingles itself is not highly contagious like measles or influenza, as it does not spread from person to person. 'Most provinces do not cover it at present; a few cover it for specific age groups or others. Instead, many jurisdictions focus on funding the vaccine for high-risk populations,' McKee said. More information on the shingles vaccine can be found online by visiting Latest National Stories
