Eight vaccines linked to a lower risk of dementia
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Eight vaccines linked to a lower risk of dementia
A growing body of research is beginning to reveal the impact that regular routine vaccines could be having on the likelihood of conditions like dementia. Here are the jabs with the strongest evidence so far.
28 April 2026
min read
by
Priya Joi
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Eight vaccines linked to a lower risk of dementia
A growing body of research is beginning to reveal the impact that regular routine vaccines could be having on the likelihood of conditions like dementia. Here are the jabs with the strongest evidence so far.
28<br>April<br>2026
by
Priya Joi
At a glanceMultiple large observational studies have found that routine adult vaccines are associated with a reduced risk of dementia, with some showing risk reductions of 25% to 40%.The strongest evidence exists for shingles, flu, RSV, pneumococcal and diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis-containing (DTP) vaccines.Researchers believe vaccination may reduce dementia risk by preventing infections that cause brain inflammation, though some evidence points to a more general immune effect.More than 57 million people worldwide are living with dementia and, according to the World Health Organization, there are 10 million new cases every single year.But over the past few years, a striking pattern has emerged from large population studies: vaccinations can be protective against dementia. The effect has now been observed across multiple vaccines, multiple countries and millions of people.Viral infections can trigger long-lasting inflammation in the body, which then extends to the brain. That inflammation can damage the ability of brain cells to communicate with each other which, in turn, can lead to cognitive impairment and memory loss, leading to dementia.The rationale behind vaccines protecting neurodegenerative diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s comes from the way that viral infections can affect our brain.Dementia is not a single disease, but a term for a cluster of symptoms, including memory loss and cognitive decline, that can have many causes. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common of those causes, accounting for an estimated 60-70% of cases.Several viruses including herpes simplex virus type 1 (that causes cold sores), chickenpox virus (varicella zoster virus that also causes shingles) and SARS-CoV-2 (which causes COVID-19) have all been linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia after infection.Viral infections can trigger long-lasting inflammation in the body, which then extends to the brain. That inflammation can damage the ability of brain cells to communicate with each other which, in turn, can lead to cognitive impairment and memory loss, leading to dementia.Here are eight vaccines that have been shown to have a protective effect against dementia.1. ShinglesThe shingles vaccine has the most replicated evidence of any vaccine for dementia risk reduction.A 2024 study in Nature Medicine found that the recombinant shingles vaccine Shingrix was associated with a significantly lower risk of dementia than the older live vaccine Zostavax, which has since been discontinued in the USA.A key difference between the two is that Shingrix contains an ingredient called AS01, an adjuvant designed to boost the immune response.A follow-up study from the same group, published in NPJ Vaccines in 2025, tracked more than 436,000 people and found an 18% reduction in dementia diagnoses over 18 months in those who received the shingles vaccine.Curious about vaccines?Visit our new YouTube channel that goes under the hood of immunity to explain how vaccines train your body to fight disease. Using clear, engaging storytelling, we explore how vaccines work, the history of major outbreaks and the science that protects us every day. Your questions answered2. RSVThe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine is a relatively new addition to adult immunisation schedules, but it has already been linked to dementia protection.The Oxford NPJ Vaccines study found a 29% reduction in dementia risk over 18 months in those who received the RSV vaccine, Arexvy.What makes this finding particularly interesting is that Arexvy contains the same AS01 adjuvant as the shingles vaccine, Shingrix. The fact that both vaccines showed similar levels of protection, despite targeting completely different viruses, led the researchers to suggest that the adjuvant itself may play a direct role in lowering dementia risk.3. FluFlu vaccination has been studied more extensively than any other vaccine in relation to dementia.A 2022 study published in the...