Shingles vaccines may reduce dementia risk, two large new studies suggest [Video]

Two new studies suggest that getting a vaccine to protect against a painful case of shingles may be beneficial for memory, too.Video above: A new test may be able to detect early signs of dementiaAn estimated 98% of U.S. adults have had chickenpox and are at risk for shingles; both are caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is in the herpes family. Herpes viruses are wily and can stow away quietly in the roots of nerves. They can reactivate during periods of stress or illness, or any time a person’s immunity is lowered. That viral reactivation can cause shingles, a rash that opens in a line around the trunk or down the neck or face. The pain from shingles varies from person to person but can range from tingling to searing, and it can go on for weeks.Increasingly, researchers believe that some kinds of herpes viruses can also hide out …