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British pharmaceutical company GSK has initiated a significant investigation to determine if its shingles vaccine can protect individuals from developing dementia. This study, potentially impacting millions in Britain, will analyze data from up to 1.4 million NHS patients to assess the vaccine’s effectiveness against this neurodegenerative disease.
Groundbreaking Study to Explore Shingles Vaccine and Dementia Prevention
The pioneering research project will utilize health records from a substantial cohort of NHS patients to evaluate whether GSK’s Shingrix vaccine diminishes the likelihood of developing dementia. Dementia remains a major health concern in the UK, recognized as a leading cause of mortality, responsible for approximately 75,000 deaths annually.
Shingrix Vaccine’s Potential in Reducing Dementia Risk
This four-year undertaking aims to substantiate increasing indications that the Shingrix vaccine, currently administered through the NHS, lowers dementia risk by as much as 27 percent when compared to an earlier shingles vaccine, Zostervax. Zostervax has also demonstrated some protective properties.
Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer at GSK, commented, ‘Our aspiration is that this research will furnish critical insights to aid in lowering dementia risk and set the stage for subsequent investigations in this vital area.’
Expert Enthusiasm for Dementia Research
Experts have expressed considerable enthusiasm for this development, particularly given the current absence of a definitive cure or truly effective treatment for dementia.
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Current medications like lecanemab and donanemab are not presently deemed economically viable for widespread NHS use.
Should the Shingrix vaccine be verified to provide protection against dementia, it could signify that a considerable portion of the older adult population could gain benefits from a vaccine already part of the NHS immunization program.
Since 2023, the Shingrix vaccine has been available to individuals upon turning 65 to guard against the varicella zoster virus, the causative agent for approximately 50,000 shingles cases each year.
British pharmaceutical company GSK is commencing a study that could prevent dementia in millions of Britons
Photo of Tony Wood, GSK’s Chief Scientific Officer, taken in San Francisco in 2019
Professor Adam Finn, a member of the government’s Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation, noted that there were pre-existing proposals to broaden the availability of the shingles vaccination to everyone over 60.
He further stated, ‘If a dementia-preventative effect is substantiated, it could potentially make it cost-effective to administer the vaccine at an even younger age.’
Largest Study to Date on Vaccine and Dementia Link
The forthcoming study, characterized as the most extensive investigation into this link so far, will compare dementia diagnosis rates between individuals who have received the Shingrix vaccine and a demographically similar group that has not been vaccinated.
Dr Sheona Scales, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, commented, ‘The precise mechanisms through which the shingles vaccine might influence dementia risk remain unclear. Potential factors could include reductions in inflammation, enhancements to overall immune system health, or other yet unidentified processes.’
She added, ‘This research has the potential to elucidate these mechanisms and offer valuable insights into whether vaccination could contribute to delaying the onset of dementia.’
Current Shingrix Vaccine Administration Guidelines
Currently, a standard Shingrix immunization schedule involves two doses for adults who reached the age of 65 after September 1, 2023.
The research aims to determine if the Shingrix vaccine lowers dementia risk (stock image)
The project seeks to confirm if Shingrix offers better dementia protection than Zostervax (file image)
Due to supply limitations, individuals who turned 65 prior to this date only become eligible for the vaccine upon reaching 70 years of age.
Unique Research Opportunity Due to Vaccine Rollout
This situation has inadvertently created an advantageous scenario for research, yielding two comparable age groups, one vaccinated and one unvaccinated.
Mr. Wood emphasized, ‘The UK’s comprehensive national health data infrastructure presents a remarkable opportunity for pioneering research endeavors.’
Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research and Innovation at Alzheimer’s Society, stated, ‘The established age thresholds have effectively generated a substantial cohort of individuals whose data can be rigorously analyzed, akin to a controlled clinical trial.’