Shingles vaccine slows progress of dementia, study finds

The shingles vaccine helps slow the progress of dementia, a new study suggests.

The research, published Tuesday, adds to a growing body of evidence that getting vaccinated against shingles offers protection against dementia – one of the leading causes of disability and death among older people. MORE: After a lifetime of seasonal depression, I finally tried light therapy. Here's what I learned

"The most exciting part is that this really suggests the shingles vaccine doesn't have only preventive, delaying benefits for dementia, but also therapeutic potential for those who already have dementia," said Dr. Pascal Geldsetzer, the study's senior author.

Approximately 7 million people in the United States, and 57 million people across the globe, are living with dementia, the most co