Vaccination against shingles has long been used to prevent a painful disease in older adults.
Now, a new U.S. study published in the Journals of Gerontology shows that the vaccine may have a broader effect on the body than previously assumed.
The study is based on health data from thousands of older Americans and examines how the body develops over time, not only whether a person becomes ill.
More than age
Age is usually measured in years, but researchers also work with the concept of biological age.
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This refers to how the body’s organs and systems function. As a result, two people of the same chronological age can differ significantly in terms of health.
According to the researchers, biological age provides a better indication of the risk of diseases such as heart problems and cognitive decline.
This is the type of age on which the study focused.
Data from older adults
The study includes more than 3,800 people over the age of 70 from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study.
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The researchers analyzed blood samples and health records and compared vaccinated and unvaccinated participants.
Among other factors, they measured inflammation, immune function, and genetic changes known to play a role in aging.
The key finding
The results show that people who had received the shingles vaccine had, on average, slower biological aging.
The effect could still be observed several years after vaccination.
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However, the study’s co-author, Eileen Crimmins, notes that more research is needed.
Sources: News-Medical, Journals of Gerontology, and Health and Retirement Study.
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