Getting the shingles vaccine doesn’t seem to make older adults more likely to die or get sudden painful conditions, which suggests that if the vaccine is linked to dementia, it’s probably not because it’s causing general harm.

People 65 and older who got the newer shingles shot lived about 164 extra days without being diagnosed with dementia over six years compared to those who got the older shingles shot—suggesting the newer shot might help delay dementia, at least a little.

Getting the shingles vaccine doesn’t make people more likely to die or get sick from other reasons, so if some studies link it to dementia, it’s probably not because vaccinated people are sicker overall or getting more medical checkups.

Older adults who got the newer shingles shot lived about 164 more days without getting dementia over six years than those who got the older shingles shot—suggesting the newer shot might help protect the brain a bit better.

Getting the shingles shot might help keep your memory sharper for a little while—like pushing back dementia by a year or two—but it doesn’t stop it for good.

Getting the shingles shot might help keep your memory sharper for a little while—especially in the first year after you get it—but that benefit slowly fades over six years, like a temporary shield against dementia, not a permanent fix.