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Shingles Linked With Higher Risk Of Experiencing Cognitive Decline
People who have had shingles, or herpes zoster, at some point in their lives have an increased risk of developing subjective cognitive decline later on, says a new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital, in Boston, MA.
The study, which appears in Alzheimer's Research & Therapy, finds a 20% increase in the chances that a person will eventually experience a sense of cognitive decline if they have had shingles.
Research regarding a connection between herpes zoster and cognitive issues has been inconclusive. However, there have been several studies recently that have established a link between higher rates of shingles vaccinations and lower rates of dementia, which is essentially a confirmation of the same relationship.
Shingles is a product of the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. After chickenpox resolves, the virus remains in the body. Anyone who has had chickenpox still carries the VZV virus, and may develop shingles unless they are vaccinated against it.
Almost all adults over the age of 50 in the United Sates are likely to carry the VZV virus due to the prevalence of chickenpox in their childhoods.
The recent study also found that having had shingles carried a higher risk of subjective cognitive decline for men who carried the gene APOE4 — associated with cognitive impairment and dementia — compared to women.
Subjective cognitive decline, or SCD, "is a state when self-perceived cognitive decline is present, but objective cognitive impairments cannot be detected," explained the first author of the study, Tian-Shin Yeh, MD, MMSc, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University, speaking to Medical News Today.
Ozan Toy, MD, MPH, of Neuropsychiatric Consultants, PC, who was not involved in the study, also told us that: "[SCD] is what it sounds like. A patient [with SCD] may feel that they are having issues with their memory or other cognitive functions. It may not be detected either through conversation with a physician, or it may not be detected through formal cognitive testing."
"With normal aging, it's not uncommon for many people to feel their memory is not quite as sharp as it used to be, and maybe they don't tend to recall things as well as they used to. But then when you actually go into the clinic, and they do objective testing, we may not actually really see anything that's objectively sort of wrong, if you will," Toy added.
If no issue is found, "[t]hat doesn't necessarily mean that there's no objective problem per se. It could be missed," he also cautioned. That may be because "[w]hat's commonly used in neurology clinics is a mini-mental status examination, where you're assessing a patient who may potentially be at risk for mild cognitive impairment."
For a more thorough examination, said Toy, "sometimes we do neuropsychological testing, which is a very comprehensive battery of cognitive tests performed by a neuropsychologist. And that's really the most detailed testing that you could do for a patient in terms of their cognitive function."
While SCD may be mild, the concern is that it may lead to more serious cognitive issues later on.
Noting that "not everyone will progress to mild cognitive impairment [MCI] or dementia, some studies have shown that people with SCD have a higher risk of progression to MCI and dementia," Yeh told us.
"For instance, about 7% progress to dementia and 21% to mild cognitive impairment," she explained, adding that "[t]hose with SCD have about 2.2 times higher risk of developing dementia compared to those without SCD."
As for the link with genetic risk, the study's finding of a higher incidence of SCD among men with the APOE4 gene remains unexplained for now.
"This sex difference," said Yeh, "is intriguing but not yet fully understood. Previous research has shown sex differences in how the APOE genotype and other risk factors relate to Alzheimer's disease and neurodegeneration."
"These differences could be due to genetic factors, hormonal influences, or differences in how [Alzheimer's] pathology develops in men versus women."
Yeh called for further research to better understand the mechanisms behind these sex-specific effects.
Yeh explained that "[t]he varicella zoster virus (VZV) has been associated with increased risk of vascular diseases, including stroke."
"Data from our cohorts showed that herpes zoster was associated with up to 38% higher long-term risk of stroke, persisting for 12 years or longer," she added.
"This vascular connection may be relevant to cognitive decline and dementia risk because cerebrovascular changes, even at a subclinical level, can contribute to cognitive impairment. Inflammation and direct neuronal damage from VZV reactivation [after post-chickenpox dormancy] may play a role. The link between VZV, vascular health, and cognitive outcomes highlights the complex interplay between infectious agents, vascular health, and brain function as we age."
– Tian-Shin Yeh, MD, MMSc, PhD
The most important takeaway from the study is that provides another compelling reason to get vaccinated against shingles if you have not already done so.
'Bachelor' Star Reveals 'shocking' Symptom That Led To Meningitis Diagnosis
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Having trouble? Click here."The Bachelor" alum Daisy Kent experienced one symptom prior to her meningitis diagnosis that made her realize her health was going to take a turn for the worse.
During an interview with Fox News Digital, Kent, 25, explained that she had experienced a "shocking pain" and knew something was "really wrong."
"I had like a shocking pain that was going down my spine," she began. "I couldn't even turn my head and I got sick a lot, growing up, so, I'm pretty good at gauging when you know something's really wrong."
"Bachelor" star Daisy Kent revealed the "shocking" symptom she had when contracting meningitis. (Getty Images)
The reality television star opened up about how her battle with meningitis affected her.
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"That was a very scary time in my life. I'm very happy to still be here, and I don't have any long-term issues from it," Kent began. "Looking back, it's definitely, probably one of the most scary times in my life. One of the most scary times for my family, but, I got through it."
WATCH: 'Bachelor' star Daisy Kent reveals 'shocking' meningitis symptom
Kent continued, "I think looking back, sometimes we don't understand why things happen in the moment, but now it's so cool that I have this platform, and I'm able to spread awareness about different things and talk about my health battles and kind of how I've overcome them and turn it into positivity."
Kent, who was on season 28 of "The Bachelor," was diagnosed with meningitis while she was a student at San Diego State University, according to a TikTok video she shared in 2023. She was a freshman in college and 19 years old at the time.
At the time, she said, "I went to bed at midnight, and I had a little bit of a headache, and then I woke up at like probably 3 a.M., and my head was pounding, so I took a bunch of Tylenol. My head was throbbing so bad, I couldn't even open my eyes."
Her condition began to quickly get worse.
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"I was laying in my bed and all of a sudden, I physically could not move like any part of my body," Kent said in the video. "So a guy that lived on my floor picked me up, carried me downstairs, and my roommate and her brother brought me to a different hospital."
Eventually, Kent had to undergo a spinal tap and was treated in the ICU before she was given her meningitis diagnosis.
Daisy Kent was on season 28 of "The Bachelor." (Photo by Omar Vega/WireImage)
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"They were giving me so much morphine," Kent said in her video at the time. "And literally, nothing would stop the pain. I've never been in that much pain in my life. I literally thought I was going to die."
According to E! News, several students at San Diego State University were diagnosed with meningitis in 2017.
Kent also shared with Fox News Digital that she had been diagnosed with Lyme Disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, Lyme Disease "is an illness caused by borrelia bacteria. Humans usually get Lyme disease from the bite of a tick carrying the bacteria."
WATCH: 'Bachelor' alum Daisy Kent shares meningitis diagnosis
Now, Kent's health is better than ever.
"Today I'm feeling great. I've had quite the health journey, which has made me more cautious about what I put in my body and different things that I'm doing," she began. "Which is why I do love cottage cheese. It's been such a great thing for me. Right now, I'm doing great, and I'm very happy, and I'm healthy."
Kent continued, "I think health is something people kind of take for granted sometimes until they go through something. But it's something we should be so appreciative for, because, you know, it's not always guaranteed."
Daisy Kent contracted meningitis while attending San Diego State University. (Photo by Romain Maurice/Getty Images)
Kent recently partnered with Daisy Brand to become the face of the cottage cheese and sour cream company. Kent told Fox News Digital that she's been eating cottage cheese for years, especially when she was sick, because of the amount of ingredients in the milk product.
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"It's definitely very important to me," Kent told Fox News Digital of eating healthy and staying fit. "Like finding things that are nutritious, packed with protein and other things, too, that are beneficial for your body."
Daisy Kent partnered with Daisy Brand to be the face of the cottage cheese and sour cream company. (Photo by Victoria Sirakova/Getty Images)
"I think when you go through something like I had gone through, and there were times like I couldn't get out of bed, there were times I was in a wheelchair for a couple of weeks. You really become thankful for moving your body," she continued. "There were times when I couldn't even eat, and I was just getting fed through IVs and stuff like that, and getting my nutrition in that way."
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Kent concluded, "I think it really makes me look at life differently and just how, you know, how, like when you have your body, and it's functioning well, how you still should treat it with love and give it things that are nutritious."
Level 2 Immunization Requirements
GeneralThe UAB Student Health Services will provide such immunizations and titer testing on a fee-for-service basis for any student who needs to meet the UAB immunization or titer requirements. Students may choose to fulfil these requirements at your local health department or a private physician.
ExceptionsExceptions to this policy may be made in limited circumstances for students who can document medical and/or other contraindications to the vaccine. Requests for exceptions must be submitted to UAB Student Health Services for consideration and approval.
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