Health

Zambero

(9,915 posts)

5. Shingles affects the central nervous system

Mon Dec 8, 2025, 08:50 AM

Dec 8

Following a chicken pox infection, the herpes zoster virus goes dormant within the CNS, potentially re-activating later in life. I understand that the virus can wreak havoc on the brain itself. So the effect of the vaccine in reducing or slowing down the potential for dementia would seem to come from enhancing immunity against herpes zoster, which might otherwise impact brain cells and contribute to an onset of dementia. Just wondering. At any rate, given a 1 in 3 chance of coming down with shingles, getting the two-course vaccine would seem to be very well-informed preventative choise.

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chia

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Shingles vaccine may slow progression of dementia, new study suggests [View all] mahatmakanejeeves Dec 8 OP

Well that's good................ Lovie777 Dec 8 #1

Shingles is no joke. RandySF Dec 8 #2

When I was a kid, and an outbreak occurred, we all would have Chicken Pox parties so all of the kids would get Shingles SWBTATTReg Dec 8 #3

"I don't know if Shingles does slow dementia down" - The OP says the shingles VACCINE may slow progression of dementia chia Dec 8 #4

Shingles affects the central nervous system Zambero Dec 8 #5

Sounds like a smart choice you're stating. SWBTATTReg Dec 9 #6

Thanks for clarifying. I knew that they were somehow tied together, since we had the parties (which by the way, was the SWBTATTReg Dec 9 #7