Turns Out There Are Side Benefits to Getting Vaccinated

"There are a number of very good reasons to get vaccinated, chief among them the increased immunity vaccines can offer for various viral and bacterial diseases. Now that a nasty flu strain is circulating around the U.S., being up to date on the current flu shot can make a big difference in staying healthy this winter. But it turns out that some vaccines can go above and beyond their intended purposes, especially as people age."

"As Paula Span observes in an article for The New York Times, medical professionals are observing "off-target benefits" for older people who are getting vaccines, including a lower risk of dementia. Span writes that some newer vaccines - including COVID-19 and RSV - will need more time to pass before researchers have a concrete sense of what other effects they might have. In terms of more established vaccines, though, the evidence is promising."

"A paper published in October 2025 found connections between vaccinations and unrelated cognitive benefits. The study's authors found that getting a flu vaccine lowered the risk of dementia, while the herpes zoster (aka shingles) vaccine showed evidence of reducing the risk of both dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The study focused on individuals who were at least 50 years of age. As for why these vaccines have shown promise in helping address dementia, one of the authors of the aforementioned paper has an idea."

Vaccination increases immunity against viral and bacterial diseases and helps prevent illness during seasonal outbreaks. Some vaccines provide off-target benefits for older adults, with evidence linking certain vaccines to lower dementia risk. A 2025 study associated flu vaccination with reduced dementia risk and found the herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine linked to lower risks of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in people aged 50 and older. Newer vaccines such as COVID-19 and RSV require more time for researchers to assess other potential effects. Preventing infections may reduce triggers associated with the onset of Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.

Read at InsideHook