The shingles vaccine may have a protective effect against dementia, write doctors Christopher Worsham and Anupam Jena.

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.

Stanford researchers found that adults who received the zoster vaccine for shingles have a lower risk of developing dementia. Experts discuss the public health impact.