This Super-Common Virus Puts You at a 20% Greater Risk of Cognitive Decline, Study Says
The thought of forgetting important people or things, or having a progressive brain disorder such as Alzheimer’s disease is terrifying. Nowadays, people are becoming more and more curious about how they can improve their brain health, especially as they age.
Research tells us that staying away from wildfire smoke and treating high blood pressure, for example, can help. According to a more recent study, there’s a viral infection to avoid too, as it can lead to a greater risk of cognitive decline. And it's very common: approximately 1 in 3 Americans have had or will have the virus.
Related: These Are the Early Dementia Signs That Are Missed Most Often, According to Neurologists
The Common Virus That Increases Your Risk of Cognitive Decline, According to 2024 Study
The virus in question is shingles, believe it or not. Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection and reawakening of chickenpox. Signs of shingles include chills, fever, a blistering rash and localized pain. Older folks experiencing stress or immune system problems are more likely to have it, as well as anyone over the age of 28 who was exposed to chickenpox.
An August 2024 study in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy found that if a person has had shingles, they are at a 20 percent higher chance of eventually experiencing cognitive decline. More specifically, it’s associated with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). The CDC describes SCD as worsening or more frequent confusion or memory loss, noting it’s one of the earliest noticeable signs of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Related: ‘I’ve Spent 40 Years Studying the Brain, and This Is the #1 Habit I Recommend for Memory Retention’
How does something like shingles—which seems more like a physical condition—potentially affect the brain in this way? Researchers have different theories, from a link to vascular disease and damage to the blood vessels in the brain to causing inflammation in the brain that damages nerve and brain cells.
While any connection between the two is otherwise inconclusive right now—and we have to remember that correlation does not equal causation—other studies have found similar results. For example, a July 2024 study in Nature Medicine found a link between shingles vaccinations and lower rates of dementia. Which brings us to the good news…
The Super Easy Fix for Avoiding Shingles
While multiple factors can put someone at risk for shingles, the infection can be avoided with an effective vaccine called Shingrix. It’s approved for adults 50 years or older (getting the vaccine is a must for this population, BTW!), though immunocompromised adults who are 19 years or older may also be able to get it. Two doses, taken two to six months apart, are needed, and then you’re set.
Other tips for preventing cognitive decline include eating a balanced diet and sleeping on your left side, for starters. In other words, while many studies about cognitive health risks are scary—and it's important to pay attention to them—you do have lots of ways to help yourself too.
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Sources
Herpes zoster and long-term risk of subjective cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy
Shingles may increase risk of cognitive decline, The Harvard Gazette
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