BOSTON, MA – A recent study conducted by Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School has revealed that experiencing shingles once may heighten the risk of long-term confusion and memory loss. The findings, published in the Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy journal on August 14, identified a correlation between the virus and an increased likelihood of “subjective cognitive decline.” This term refers to early changes in cognition that are noticeable before showing up on standard neuropsychological tests.
Dr. Sharon Curhan, lead author of the study and a physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, explained that subjective cognitive decline was also linked to a higher risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. The study analyzed data from over 150,000 women and men across a 13-year period from the Nurses’ Health Study, Nurses’ Health Study II, and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.
The researchers noted that shingles may contribute to dementia risk through neuroinflammation, damage to cerebral blood vessels, or direct neuronal damage. Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News, emphasized that the inflammation caused by shingles, when affecting the brain, is associated with cognitive decline, potentially leading to Alzheimer’s disease.
While the study does not establish a definitive cause-and-effect relationship, it suggests a substantial and prolonged increase in the risk of cognitive decline following shingles. Additionally, individuals who were not vaccinated against shingles appeared to have a greater risk.
The study also found that shingles was associated with more than a 20% higher long-term risk of subjective cognitive decline. Researchers observed that genetic carriers of APOE e4, a gene linked to Alzheimer’s disease, faced an even greater elevated risk, especially among men.
Despite the limitations of the observational study, the results underscore the importance of preventive measures. Shingles, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, can lead to various complications, including long-term nerve pain. Vaccination has been shown to be highly effective in preventing shingles and its associated risks, such as chronic pain, cardiovascular issues, and cognitive decline.
As public health efforts continue to emphasize the significance of vaccination, ongoing research in diverse populations is essential to further understand the implications of shingles on cognitive health. The study’s authors are currently collecting data on vaccination status among participants to explore the impact of vaccination on the relationship between shingles and cognitive decline in future studies.