Health
Lower dementia risk linked to routine vaccination in major new analysis
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The shingles vaccine could slow the progress of dementia, according to a new study from Stanford.
These findings follow previous research that found older adults who received the vaccine were 20% less likely to develop dementia over the next seven years compared to those who didn’t get the shot.
“For the first time, we now have evidence that likely shows a cause-and-effect relationship between shingles vaccination and dementia prevention and treatment,” Dr. Pascal Geldsetzer, assistant professor of medicine and senior author of the new study, told Fox News Digital.
LISTENING TO MUSIC AFTER 70 MAY CUT DEMENTIA RISK BY NEARLY 40%, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS
A team of scientists used public health data in Wales, where, for several years, eligibility for the shingles vaccine (Zostavax) was based strictly on birth date.
People born just before the cutoff automatically qualified, while people born just after did not.
A new study suggests the shingles vaccine may help slow dementia progression in people already diagnosed with the disease. (iStock)
This created two large groups of older adults who were nearly identical in age, health profile and background, only differing by who received the vaccine. This allowed researchers to compare dementia rates in a way that avoided some of the biases seen in observational studies.
SHINGLES VACCINE CONNECTED TO ‘EXCITING’ HEALTH BENEFITS IN LARGE STUDY
After the initial analysis from April, researchers dug deeper into the records and found that the vaccine’s benefits extended from the earliest signs of cognitive decline all the way to the last stages of dementia.
Over the course of nine years, people who received the vaccine were less likely to be diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment.
Researchers found that vaccinated dementia patients had lower dementia-related death rates than unvaccinated patients. (iStock)
Additionally, those who received the vaccine after a dementia diagnosis were significantly less likely to die from dementia in the next nine years, suggesting that the vaccine could slow the progress of the disease.
Nearly half of the Welsh seniors who had dementia at the start of the vaccination program ended up dying from dementia in the follow-up, compared to only 30% of those who received the vaccine.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“There is a growing body of research showing that viruses that preferentially target your nervous system and hibernate in your nervous system for much of your life may be implicated in the development of dementia,” said Geldsetzer.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
That includes the chickenpox virus, which stays in the body for life. In older age, it can reactivate and cause shingles, and sometimes it can trigger inflammation in or around the brain, according to Mayo Clinic.
Preventing viral flare-ups could also reduce inflammation, which has been linked to dementia risk, experts say.
Scientists say randomized trials are needed to confirm whether a shingles vaccination can genuinely slow dementia. (iStock)
The critical limitation of this research, according to the team, is that the health behaviors of those who get vaccinated are different than those who do not.
“We have very little, if any, information on these behaviors in electronic health records or medical claims data,” Geldsetzer noted.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
For instance, the researchers don’t know about the patients’ dietary behaviors or physical activity levels.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“If the shingles vaccine really prevents or delays dementia — and, with this new study, also appears to have benefits for those who already have dementia — then this would be a hugely important finding for clinical medicine, population health and research into the causes of dementia,” Geldsetzer emphasized.
Fox News Digital reached out to shingles vaccine manufacturers for comment.
new video loaded: Why Milder Symptoms Could Make This Ebola Outbreak More Dangerous
By Apoorva Mandavilli, Alexandra Ostasiewicz, Nikolay Nikolov, Stephanie Swart, Rafaela Balster and Lauren Pruitt
June 23, 2026
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Just four minutes of daily strength exercises can dramatically improve mobility, balance and leg strength in older adults, per new research from the Penn State College of Medicine.
Standard public health guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. However, the study suggests that fewer than one in five older adults meet the recommended muscle-strengthening guidelines.
The research team designed a home-based program called Functional Activity Strength Training, or FAST-2. They evaluated 97 sedentary participants 65 and older, with an average age of 74.
FITNESS EXPERT REVEALS 6 PILLARS OF STRENGTH TRAINING THAT OLDER ADULTS SHOULD MASTER
Before entering the study, these individuals were averaging just 18 minutes of total physical activity each week.
The older adults were randomly split into two groups, with one group performing the daily exercise routine and the other serving as a control group that received no intervention, according to the study’s press release.
Just four minutes of daily home strength training can significantly improve mobility, balance and leg strength in older adults, according to a Penn State College of Medicine study. (iStock)
Participants performed four basic movements for 30 seconds each, separated by 30-second rest intervals. The entire routine lasted exactly four minutes. The circuit consisted of push-ups, chair stands, two-arm resistance-band rows and stair stepping.
To keep the routine accessible, researchers provided written explanations and simple modifications. For example, participants could perform push-ups against a kitchen counter or wall, or use their hands on their knees for support during chair stands.
Participants were also given four elastic resistance bands and an adjustable step platform.
7 COMMON FITNESS MISTAKES OLDER ADULTS MAKE AND HOW TO AVOID THEM FOR BETTER WORKOUTS
“Exercise is actually really complicated, because you have to decide how many repetitions, how far, how many sets, how much rest and how many times per week,” co-author Smita Dandekar, associate professor of pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine, said in the press release.
“It’s hard work … so if we can make it short, we’re part [of the] way there.”
The program consisted of four basic movements: push-ups, chair stands, resistance-band rows and stair stepping. (iStock)
As the participants grew stronger, they were encouraged to progress to higher levels of difficulty, such as transitioning away from modifications or increasing the height of the stepper.
DOCTOR SHARES 3 SIMPLE CHANGES TO STAY HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT AS YOU AGE
After 12 weeks, the results suggested that a tiny dose of regular exercise could yield noticeable physical benefits. In a 30-second chair-stand test, the exercise group performed an average of 4.2 more repetitions than the control group.
“These indicators … give you a sense of whether or not you’re going to be able to be active in the future.”
The adults doing the exercises also shaved 2.3 seconds off their time during a test measuring how they could stand up and sit down five times consecutively. Furthermore, they extended their one-legged balance time by an average of 3.6 seconds.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
The researchers emphasized that these specific measurements are critical medical indicators of an older adult’s future health.
By keeping the routine ultra-short, researchers eliminated common barriers like time constraints and exhaustion, resulting in an exceptionally high 81% workout completion rate. (iStock)
“These indicators predict your future ability to go into a nursing home, your future likelihood of falling and of developing difficulty walking,” noted lead author Christopher Sciamanna, professor of medicine and of public health at Penn State College of Medicine, in the press release.
“They give you a sense of whether or not you’re going to be able to be active in the future.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
While traditional home exercise programs generally see low engagement, the participants in this study successfully completed their workouts on 81% of the tracked days, according to the researchers.
After 12 weeks, exercising seniors gained the ability to complete an average of four more chair-stand repetitions than those who did not exercise. (iStock)
The study had several noted limitations. As it tracked a relatively small sample size of fewer than 100 individuals over a brief 12-week time frame, it is unknown whether these mobility gains can be sustained long-term.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Additionally, the researchers did not specify the exact dropout rates or detail how the routine might affect seniors who already relied on assistive devices like walkers or canes.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Because the final trial results reflected a specific group of participants who met the entry criteria, further investigation is required to determine whether the short routine can safely benefit older adults facing more severe physical limitations or cognitive decline.
The study was published in the journal PLOS One.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Jill Smokler, founder of Scary Mommy, has died at age 48 after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
The popular “mommy blogger” had been fighting the disease for the past two years, according to an announcement posted on ScaryMommy.com on Monday.
The stay-at-home mother of three launched the blog in 2008 as a place to share the “joys and pitfalls” of parenting, according to the article.
As Scary Mommy expanded from a personal blog into a major parenting brand, Smokler built a following with her honest, often self-deprecating take on motherhood. She went on to speak at blogging conferences, author bestselling books, appear on national television programs and earn three Webby Awards, her biography states.
AGGRESSIVE BRAIN CANCER MAY RESPOND TO HIGH-DOSE VITAMIN THERAPY, STUDY SUGGESTS
“Jill spent her life telling the truth about motherhood — that it could be wonderful and impossible in the very same breath — and in doing so, she gave millions of women permission to stop pretending and feel a little less alone,” her family shared in a statement following her passing.
Jill Smokler, founder of Scary Mommy (pictured in 2018), has died at age 48 after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun/ZUMA Press Wire / Shutterstock)
“She was funny, fearless, generous and entirely herself. More than anything she built, Jill was proudest of her three children, Lily, Ben and Evan. We are heartbroken to lose her, and endlessly proud of the mark she left on the world.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Smokler’s first sign of the disease was in April 2024, when she experienced a sudden seizure. She then underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor, after which she didn’t recognize her own children, she previously shared with Today.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“I am definitely grateful that I don’t remember the looks on their faces when I didn’t recognize them,” she said. “That must have been gutting.”
Smokler was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults and one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer. There is currently no cure.
About 13.9% of all brain tumors are glioblastomas, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. (iStock)
Following surgery, the blogger underwent radiation and chemotherapy, during which she was open about her treatment side effects, including fatigue and hair loss. Additional surgeries and clinical trials followed, according to previous interviews.
“Thank you, Jill, for everything. May you rest in peace,” the Scary Mommy post concluded.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
About 13.9% of all brain tumors are glioblastomas, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. More than 12,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Median survival is approximately 12 to 18 months after diagnosis, even with treatment. Only about 5% to 7% of patients survive five years after diagnosis, data shows.
-
Health15 minutes agoVideo: Why Milder Symptoms Could Make This Ebola Outbreak More Dangerous
-
Lifestyle30 minutes agoWorking hard as ever, Wendell Pierce aims for an annual trifecta: TV, film and theater
-
Education37 minutes agoThe Patriot Housewife Whose Plays Helped Push America Toward Revolution
-
Technology40 minutes agoThe best robot vacuum deals available during Prime Day
-
World45 minutes agoTurkey detains over 200 suspects, including alleged ISIS militants, in sweeping raid ahead of NATO summit
-
Politics52 minutes agoTrump foe wins crucial Dem primary as 2028 presidential speculation swirls
-
Sports1 hour agoWizards select AJ Dybantsa first overall in 2026 NBA Draft
-
Business1 hour ago
SpaceX stock returns to Earth after record IPO
