Studies Suggest Vaccines Give Older Adults Added Protection Against Dementia and Heart Problems

New research shows vaccines for older adults can have benefits beyond preventing the diseases they target, including lower risks of dementia, cardiovascular hospitalization and other serious outcomes. Researchers say evidence for these so-called off-target benefits has grown over the past decade.

"The research has accumulated and accelerated over the last 10 years," said Dr. William Schaffner. A meta-analysis led by Dr. Stefania Maggi and published in Age and Ageing found associations between several vaccines and reduced dementia risk. In 21 studies covering more than 104 million people, shingles vaccination was linked to a 24 percent lower risk of dementia, flu vaccination to a 13 percent reduction, and pneumococcal vaccination to a 36 percent lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Tdap vaccination was associated with about a one-third decline in dementia risk. Other studies show cardiovascular and respiratory benefits. Longstanding evidence links flu shots to lower risks of hospitalization for heart failure, pneumonia and other infections, and to reduced heart attack and stroke risk.

A recent large Danish study found that older adults who received the R.S.V. vaccine had nearly a 10 percent decline in cardiorespiratory hospitalizations versus a control group. Vaccination against Covid-19 has been tied to a lower risk of developing long Covid.

Key Topics

Health, Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, Shingrix, Rsv Vaccine, Influenza Vaccine