POS-2026-3007: Evaluation of the potential causal effect of shingles vaccine eligibility on the incidence of dementia in the United Kingdom

Dementia affects around one million people in the UK, and finding ways to prevent or slow its development is one of the most pressing challenges in medicine today. This study, led by Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), the UK Dementia Research Institute (UKDRI), and funded by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), will investigate whether the shingles vaccine, Shingrix, may help reduce the risk of dementia.

In September 2023, the UK changed the ages at which people become eligible for the shingles vaccine, creating two very similar groups of people by chance: those who became eligible and received the vaccine, and those who were nearly the same age but not yet eligible. For example, someone turning 65 from September 2023 could get the vaccine straight away, while someone already aged 65 or 66 at that point would have to wait until they turned 70.

Comparing these two groups gives researchers a rare opportunity to study the vaccine’s effects. HDR UK and UK DRI researchers will securely analyse data using health records from millions of people across the UK, drawn from GP and hospital visits, including information such as age, sex, ethnicity, local area someone lives, and their medical history. Researchers can only access these records through secure systems, and cannot see anything that would reveal who someone is, such as their name or address.

The research team is working alongside people who have received the shingles vaccine and dementia charities, to make sure the study addresses questions that matter to patients and families. By carefully comparing people who received the vaccine with those who did not, this study aims to produce clear evidence on whether the shingles vaccine offers any protection against dementia, findings that could shape future policy and benefit millions of people across the UK and beyond.