GSK Examines Potential Link Between Shingles Vaccine and Dementia Risk

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is conducting a study on more than a million older adults in the UK to determine whether its best-selling shingles vaccine, Shingrix, can reduce the risk of dementia.

The British pharmaceutical company is analyzing health data from approximately 1.4 million individuals aged 65 to 66. Some of these individuals received the Shingrix vaccine, while others did not.

According to GSK’s chief scientific officer, Tony Wood, the study benefits from a unique dataset obtained from the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

Due to modifications in the UK’s shingles immunization program, a naturally randomized trial has emerged.

In 2023, the national vaccination program expanded to include individuals aged 65 and older, whereas previously, only those aged 70 and above were eligible.

However, people who were 66 or older at the time of the expansion were told they would not qualify until they turned 70.

This created two large patient groups with distinct vaccination statuses, enabling researchers to assess the vaccine’s impact on dementia risk.

Conducting a traditional trial on such a large scale would be financially unfeasible, Wood noted in a media briefing. “This partnership allows us to answer a question that would typically be difficult to study under normal conditions,” he said.

The study will monitor these individuals until the 66-year-olds reach 70, considering factors such as other medical conditions.

While previous research has suggested that shingles vaccines may lower dementia risk, past studies have only identified correlations rather than proving causation.

In collaboration with the UK Dementia Research Institute and Health Data Research UK, GSK aims to provide more definitive evidence on this issue.

If the findings confirm a protective effect, the company may seek regulatory approval to expand the vaccine’s label.

Currently, over 55 million people worldwide suffer from dementia. For years, Alzheimer’s research has faced significant challenges, but emerging clinical trials on Alzheimer’s vaccines offer hope for groundbreaking treatments.