Protecting More Than Your Skin: What Shingles Teaches Us About Brain and Heart Health

Most of you know about shingles — a painful, blistering rash caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster virus). But recent research is revealing that shingles is more than just a skin condition. It can also affect our heart and brain health in significant ways.

Thankfully, the shingles vaccine is showing promise not only in preventing the rash but also in reducing the risk of serious long-term complications like stroke, heart attack, and even dementia. 

Shingles and Vascular Disease: A Hidden Link 

A large nationwide cohort study out of South Korea, published in 2025, looked at more than 2 million adults aged 50 and older. Researchers found that those who received the live zoster vaccine (an older form of shingles vaccine still in use in some parts of the world) had a 23% lower risk of ANY cardiovascular event and a 24% lower risk of stroke compared to those who didn’t get vaccinated. Additionally, researchers noted a 22% reduction in risk for thrombotic (clotting) events and 21% reduced risk for arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms). These benefits were observed even after adjusting for common risk factors like age, sex, smoking and other health conditions. 

Why might this be? Experts believe the inflammation caused by shingles may trigger vascular problems, especially in people who already have risk factors for cardiovascular disease. One study even revealed that an individual has a 31% increased risk of stroke within the first year of a shingles infection and that shingles of the eye increases risk of a stroke by four-fold within the first year. Preventing shingles through vaccination may reduce this inflammatory reaction and in turn, help protect the heart, brain, and blood vessels. 

Shingles and Dementia: A New Area of Discovery 

In parallel, researchers are uncovering another possible connection — between shingles and dementia. A growing body of evidence suggests that viral infections, including shingles, may play a role in triggering neuroinflammation and accelerating cognitive decline. Recent studies are finding that individuals who have had shingles, especially those who experience shingles of the eye, may have a higher risk of developing dementia later in life.

Encouragingly, some early findings suggest that receiving the shingles vaccine may reduce the risk of developing dementia, particularly vascular dementia. Though more research is needed to confirm this link, the possibility of reducing dementia risk through a simple vaccine is both exciting and hopeful. 

Shingles Vaccine Guidelines: What You Need to Know 

The CDC currently recommends two doses of the recombinant shingles vaccine (Shingrix) for all adults aged 50 and older and for immunocompromised adults aged 19 and older. The two doses are given 2-6 months apart and are recommended regardless of an individual’s having a history of chickenpox. 

It’s important to note that Shingrix has largely replaced the older live vaccine (Zostavax), which is no longer available in the U.S. If you previously received Zostavax, it’s still recommended that you get the Shingrix series for stronger and longer-lasting protection.

Shingles isn’t just a painful rash; it may be a risk factor for serious health conditions like heart disease, stroke and dementia. The shingles vaccine offers a powerful tool not just for preventing this painful condition but potentially for protecting your heart and brain. If you’re eligible and haven’t yet been vaccinated, please check in with your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated! 

References: 

European Heart Journal (2025) 00, 1–12 https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf230 

Rubin R. Researchers Are Exploring the Role of Shingles—and a Protective Role of Shingles Vaccine—in Dementia. JAMA. 2024;332(18):1505–1507. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.0227