痴呆症是一种被广泛恐惧的疾病，它剥夺了人的自我意识，而阿尔茨海默病是其最常见的原因。虽然流行病学模型预测，由于人口老龄化，全球痴呆症病例到2050年可能会翻三倍达到1.53亿，但在最近几十年中，富裕国家的年龄调整后风险实际上已急剧下降。尽管个人可以通过调整生活方式以及对高血压和听力损失等疾病进行医疗干预来降低风险，但坚持这些习惯却很困难。然而，最近的科学发现表明，接种带状疱疹疫苗可以使患痴呆症的风险降低约20%，提供了一种高效且省力的预防措施。

该疫苗保护作用背后的机制仍是科学界争论的话题。一种假设认为，引起带状疱疹和水痘的水痘-带状疱疹病毒即使在休眠状态下也会损害或激活神经系统的炎症，从而导致认知能力下降。另一种理论认为，疫苗刺激了免疫系统的B细胞，帮助其对抗与痴呆症相关的其他病原体。虽然较早的研究评估了减毒活疫苗，但目前的标准是Shingrix，这是一种更安全且对抗痴呆症可能更有效的亚单位疫苗。该疫苗还能预防带状疱疹，带状疱疹历史上折磨着20%至30%未接种疫苗的人群。

尽管其益处已获证实，但许多公共卫生系统仍限制该疫苗的使用以控制前期支出，尽管有证据表明为所有55岁及以上的人接种疫苗是具有成本效益的。例如，英国在2023年将其符合条件的年龄从70岁降至65岁，但在为较年长公民接种疫苗方面仍然进展缓慢，而欧盟27个成员国中只有17个推荐该疫苗。在英国，全套两剂Shingrix的费用对公共卫生系统约为320英镑（430美元），在美国约为270美元，与长期的痴呆症护理巨额成本相比，这是一项非常经济的投资。

Dementia is a widely feared condition that strips individuals of their sense of self, with Alzheimer's being its most common cause. While epidemiological models predict that the global number of dementia cases could triple to 153 million by 2050 due to aging populations, the age-adjusted risk has actually declined sharply in wealthy nations in recent decades. Although individuals can reduce their risk through lifestyle adjustments and medical treatments for conditions like high blood pressure and hearing loss, sustaining these habits is difficult. However, recent scientific findings reveal that a standard course of the shingles vaccine can reduce dementia risk by approximately 20%, offering a highly effective and effortless preventative measure.

The mechanism behind the vaccine's protective effect remains a subject of scientific debate. One hypothesis suggests that the varicella-zoster virus, which causes shingles and chickenpox, damage or inflame the nervous system even when dormant, thereby contributing to cognitive decline. Another theory proposes that the vaccine stimulates the immune system's B-cells, helping it combat other pathogens linked to dementia. While older studies evaluated a live-attenuated vaccine, the current standard is Shingrix, a subunit vaccine that is safer and potentially more effective against dementia. The vaccine also prevents shingles, which historically afflicts 20% to 30% of unvaccinated individuals.

Despite its proven benefits, many public health systems ration the vaccine to limit upfront expenditures, despite evidence that vaccinating everyone from age 55 is cost-effective. For example, the United Kingdom lowered its eligibility age from 70 to 65 in 2023 but remains slow in vaccinating older citizens, while only 17 of the 27 European Union member states recommend the vaccine. A full two-dose course of Shingrix costs public health systems about 320 pounds (430 dollars) in Britain and 270 dollars in the United States, representing a highly economical investment when compared to the massive costs of long-term dementia care.

Source: A no-brainer for protecting your brai

Subtitle: One simple vaccination may dramatically reduce the risk of dementia

Dateline: Jul 09, 2026 06:30 AM