Read here in full “Ziarul de Sănătate” no. 18
It has previously been suggested that the herpes zoster vaccine may have this unexpected benefit. Researchers have now compared around 100,000 people who received a newer shingles vaccine with a similar group who received another, older vaccine.
On average, those who received the new injection enjoyed 164 more days without a dementia diagnosis over six years. The researchers say more research is needed to confirm this link.
Shingles is a painful and serious condition that is more common in older people. It is caused by reactivation of the herpes zoster virus – the virus that causes chicken pox.
Shingles vaccination was introduced in many countries about 18 years ago. Since then, more and more evidence has shown that the vaccine may help protect against depression, but that it is not conclusive.
In this study, researchers at the University of Oxford compared the medical records of people in the United States who received the older Zostavax vaccine with a newer vaccine called Shingrix, which is increasingly used in the United Kingdom. , according to the BBC.
Although the same number of people had developed dementia by the end of the study, the researchers found that, on average, over the six years:
– people who received the new vaccine had 17% more time without dementia than those who received the older vaccine;
– the benefits were greater for women;
“Even if it’s a delay of, say, 164 days in public health, that’s not a small discovery, it’s a big enough impact if it is. [legătura este dovedită]it feels meaningful to us,” said study author Professor Paul Harrison.
Dr Sheona Scales, from the charity Alzheimer’s Research UK, said it was “vital” to find new ways to reduce people’s risk.
She said that “this research, which was done in a large group of people, suggests that those who received the new shingles vaccine may have a lower risk of depression, but it is not clear how the serum could reduce the risk, or cause the new shingles vaccine. a direct reduction in the risk of dementia or is another factor involved’.
Other factors that have been definitively linked to an increased risk of dementia include smoking, high blood pressure and excessive alcohol consumption, she said.
Professor Harrison said the study raised a number of questions that urgently needed to be addressed.
“It is possible that herpes viruses are one of many factors that can trigger depression,” he said.
“Therefore, a vaccine that stops the reactivation of the virus could delay the process that leads to depression for years to come. “
Another possibility is that ingredients in the vaccine, designed to help the body mount an immune response, could play a role, he said.
In the UK, a free shingles vaccine is available to people aged 70 to 79 and to people over 50 who have a weakened immune system.
Older shingles vaccines are now being replaced with the new vaccine, made by pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), which was not involved in the research.
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2024-08-07 00:00:00
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