The bad news
For many years we have been reporting on the research that finds that people with facial infection who also have a variant of the APOE4 gene are more likely than others to develop Alzheimer’s disease. (This is not relevant if you have it genitally. And people with genital infection are very unlikely to ever catch a new facial infection.) Only a tiny number of people have this gene variant – and anyway it is only ‘more likely to’ not ‘will’ develop.
This news has been picked up again in the media because researchers have now found that if mice are infected in the nose, this allows the virus to use the olfactory nerve to more easily reach the brain, leading to neurological issues. Again, we must emphasise that this is only ‘an increased risk’ not a flat out ‘will’…
The good news 1
Research studies following large numbers of people have also found that taking antiviral tablets – aciclovir, valaciclovir or famciclovir – have been useful in preventing dementia.
The good news 2
Also, research has followed people who have, and have not, had a shingles vaccine for seven years. It found that shingles vaccination cut older adults’ risk of developing dementia by 20% .
The research, published in April 2025 in the prestigious journal Nature, reported that “women seem to benefit more.” This is important as they’re at higher risk of dementia.
The study covered people being given the single jab Zostavax. This vaccine has been replaced in the UK with the two-jab vaccine Shingrix which is even more effective at preventing shingles.
The vaccine helps with preventing dementia because it prevents the inflammation of the outbreak. It is now considered likely that this inflammatory process helps trigger dementia.
So it is not going to matter if a person has Shingrix or Zostavax. Just preventing the shingles episode is the aim! Here you can see who is able to get vaccinated free. If you are over 50 but outside the NHS free campaign, you can buy Shingrix. Some pharmacies including Boots sell this vaccination service for around £450.
SUMMARY
So, any antivirals you take are extra valuable. As are shingles vaccines. If you are in your 70s, or reach 65 after September 2023, get your shingles vaccines: two doses of Shingrix. Marian ended up having to buy one of her two doses (long story) and paid £225 for the single jab.
Published 8 May 2025