Truth: You don't want to get shingles, the condition that occurs when the dormant virus that causes chickenpox reactivates. Often, it leads to painful rashes and blisters. (Which makes the crazy, frustrating symptomatic itching of chickenpox seem like a walk in the park.) Fortunately, there's a fast way to lower your risk of being diagnosed: Get a shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine.

The shingles vaccine has been available throughout the United States since 2006, according to the National Vaccine Information Center , and it's designed to help you avoid an outbreak of shingles. But it may do much more: Research suggests that when you protect your body with a shingles vaccine, you may end up protecting your mind against age-related degenerative cognitive impairments that are called dement

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