Author Interviews, Herpes Viruses, Inflammation, Vaccine Studies / 21.10.2025
ID Week 2025: Shingrix Vaccine for Shingles Associated with Fewer Heart and Brain Adverse Events
[caption id="attachment_71064" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Dr. Dehghani[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Ali Dehghani, DO
Department of Medicine
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University
Presenting Author, IDWeek 2025
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Shingles (herpes zoster) is caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which can inflame blood vessels and the nervous system. Evidence over the past decade has linked shingles to higher risks of heart attack, stroke, and dementia—but it was unclear whether the shingles vaccine might lessen those long-term effects.
[caption id="attachment_71061" align="aligncenter" width="500"] CDC PHIL Image[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Response: Using data from over 100 U.S. health systems, we followed adults age 50 and older for up to five years. We found that people who developed shingles had a 20–30% higher risk of cardiovascular events, vascular dementia, and death compared with similar adults without shingles.
Those who had received the recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix) before their infection had substantially lower long-term risks—about 25% fewer major cardiac events, 40% lower early mortality, and nearly 50% less vascular dementia over time.
Dr. Dehghani[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Ali Dehghani, DO
Department of Medicine
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University
Presenting Author, IDWeek 2025
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Shingles (herpes zoster) is caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which can inflame blood vessels and the nervous system. Evidence over the past decade has linked shingles to higher risks of heart attack, stroke, and dementia—but it was unclear whether the shingles vaccine might lessen those long-term effects.
[caption id="attachment_71061" align="aligncenter" width="500"] CDC PHIL Image[/caption]
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Response: Using data from over 100 U.S. health systems, we followed adults age 50 and older for up to five years. We found that people who developed shingles had a 20–30% higher risk of cardiovascular events, vascular dementia, and death compared with similar adults without shingles.
Those who had received the recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix) before their infection had substantially lower long-term risks—about 25% fewer major cardiac events, 40% lower early mortality, and nearly 50% less vascular dementia over time.