New results from a large study based on a ‘natural experiment’ in Wales confirm that vaccination against shingles can lower incidence of cognitive impairment and dementia and can also help slow progression of the disease.

The experiment involved 304,940 individuals born between 1925 and 1942. Those turning 80 immediately before September 2, 1933 were ineligible for shingles (herpes zoster) vaccination, whereas individuals who were 80 by this date could have the vaccination creating a sort of natural randomization process a bit like that seen in a clinical trial.

Earlier this year, lead investigator on the current study Pascal Geldsetzer, MD, PhD, an assistant professor at Stanford Medicine, and colleagues published research from the same group of people in Wales showing that having a s

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