A pharmacist displays doses of a vaccine that protects against shingles, at a CVS Pharmacy in Miami, on September 9, 2025. Rebecca Blackwell/AP/File

The shingles vaccine not only offers protection against the painful viral infection, but a new study suggests that the two-dose shot also may slow the progression of dementia.

Shingles, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, presents as a painful rash and it’s estimated that about 1 in every 3 people in the United States will develop the illness in their lifetime. But the risk of shingles and serious complications increases with age, which is why in the United States, two doses of the shingles vaccine is recommended for adults 50 and older.

While vaccination is estimated to be more than 90% effective at preventing shingles in older adult

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