There’s been a rise of shingles cases among adults aged 25–49. Why aren’t they eligible for a free vaccine?
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Chickenpox parties are a thing of the past but the virus is still circulating. Most illness is mild but some people can become seriously ill.
Inflammation and damage to the olfactory system from shingles, COVID-19 and herpes infections may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.
People with an active case of shingles have up to an 80% higher risk of stroke than those without. The increased risk is highest for patients under 40.
Ruth Itzhaki has spent more than 30 years researching whether certain common viruses play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s. But for years her research was greeted with hostility.
Chickenpox has largely disappeared from the public’s memory thanks to a highly effective vaccine. But the virus’s clever life cycle allows it to reappear in later adulthood in the form of shingles.
A growing body of research shows that nutrition, sleep, exercise and a host of other lifestyle choices can help optimize the immune system. But they are no substitute for life-saving vaccines.
There’s an effective vaccine – but it’s not always the best option.
Top contributors
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Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz
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Professor of Neurology and Ophthalmology, University of Colorado Anschutz
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Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz
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Professor Emerita of Biology, Indiana University
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Professor Emeritus of Molecular Neurobiology at the University of Manchester and a Visiting Professorial Fellow, University of Oxford
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Dean of the College of Health Sciences, University of Memphis
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Paediatrician and Infectious Diseases Specialist; Clinical Researcher, University of Sydney
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Clinical Associate Lecturer, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney
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Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University
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Tracey Banivanua Mar Senior Research Fellow in Cell and Molecular Biology, La Trobe University
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Professor of Infectious Diseases and Global Health, University of Sydney
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Senior Research Fellow and Team Lead for Health Technology Assessment, Centre for Health Economics, Monash University
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Professor of Paediatric Infection and Immunity, University of Oxford
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Professor of Infectious Diseases, Monash University