Chemists across Britain are reporting increased demand for shingles vaccination, with a significant portion of this surge attributed to people seeking potential dementia prevention rather than protection against shingles itself. Recent bookings data show substantial growth, with Boots reporting more than doubled reservations over the past year following a 30% increase the year prior, while Superdrug experienced a 41% year-on-year rise. Most people under 65 pay approximately £450 for the complete two-dose course, though the vaccine is available free through the NHS for certain eligible groups.
This trend reflects emerging scientific research suggesting a possible link between shingles vaccination and reduced dementia risk. Multiple studies have reported protective effects ranging up to approximately 20% risk reduction, with particularly strong results observed in women. An influential Stanford University study examining a natural experiment from a Welsh vaccination program found dementia rates were 8.5% lower over seven years in women eligible for vaccination, translating to nearly 20% risk reduction when accounting for vaccination uptake rates. Similar findings have been documented in Australia and Canada. More recent research from the University of Oxford analyzing over 200,000 US vaccination recipients found 17% lower dementia cases in those receiving the newer Shingrix vaccine compared with the older Zostavax formulation over six years, corresponding to approximately 164 additional days lived without dementia, with women showing 22% risk reduction versus 13% for men.
Researchers propose that varicella zoster virus, which causes both chickenpox and shingles, may contribute to dementia development through inflammation and accumulation of amyloid and tau proteins in the brain. Following childhood chickenpox infection, the virus remains dormant in nerve tissue and can reactivate with age or immune suppression, potentially triggering disease processes associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. However, scientists emphasize that current evidence suggests correlation rather than definitively proving causation, and the vaccine remains officially approved only for shingles prevention.
Globally, nearly 60 million people currently live with dementia, with projections indicating more than 100 million cases by 2040. In England and Wales specifically, dementia is expected to affect 1.7 million people by that year, with associated annual costs projected at £90 billion. Existing dementia treatments targeting amyloid protein show limited patient impact and can carry serious side effects.
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