Herpes Zoster Linked to Increased Long-Term Risk for Cognitive Decline
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Aug. 16, 2024 -- Herpes zoster (HZ) is associated with an increased long-term risk for subjective cognitive decline (SCD), according to a study published online Aug. 14 in Alzheimer's Research & Therapy.
Tian-Shin Yeh, M.D., Ph.D., from Taipei Medical University in Taiwan, and colleagues prospectively examined the association between HZ and subsequent SCD using data from 149,327 participants from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), NHSII, and Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS). The multivariable-adjusted relative risk (MVRR) of a 3-unit increment in the SCD score was estimated according to years since HZ compared to participants with no history of HZ.
The researchers found that the MVRR of a 3-unit increment in the SCD score was significantly and independently higher for individuals with a history of HZ versus those with no history of HZ, but the association varied with time since HZ. HZ was associated with a higher long-term risk for SCD in the NHS; the MVRR was 1.14 for a 3-unit increment in the SCD score for ≥13 years since HZ compared with no history of HZ. In NHSII, HZ was associated with a higher risk for SCD in the short and long term (MVRRs, 1.34 for one to four years and 1.20 for ≥13 years since HZ). An elevated risk for SCD was suggested across all time points in the HPFS. There was a suggestion that the association differed by APOE ε4 carrier status, but results were not consistent for men and women.
"The magnitude of the elevated long-term risk of SCD may potentially be reduced by HZ vaccination, but further study is needed," the authors write.
Several authors disclosed ties to pharmaceutical companies, including GlaxoSmithKline, which funded the study.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted August 2024
Read this next
Mix of Factors Can ID Cognitive Decline in Early Alzheimer Disease
THURSDAY, Aug. 15, 2024 -- Even in early stages of Alzheimer disease (AD), cognitive deterioration is best predicted by a combination of patient demographic, somatic, and...
Risk for Alzheimer Dementia Lower With Treated Versus Untreated HTN
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 14, 2024 -- Individuals with treated hypertension have a reduced risk for Alzheimer dementia (AD) compared with those with untreated hypertension, according to...
Context of Screen Use in Children Should Be Considered in Recommendations
THURSDAY, Aug. 8, 2024 -- Contexts of screen use beyond screen time limits should be considered in making recommendations for young children, according to a review published...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.