Shingles Vaccine May Slow Aging in Adults Over 70

Getting a shingles shot might do more than protect you from a painful rash. New research suggests it could help you age more slowly at a cellular level.

Scientists at USC's Leonard Davis School of Gerontology studied over 3,800 Americans age 70 and older. They discovered something unexpected: those who received the shingles vaccine showed signs of slower biological aging compared to those who skipped it.

Biological aging measures how well your body is actually functioning, not just how many birthdays you've celebrated. Two 70-year-olds might have very different biological ages based on inflammation levels, organ health, and cellular changes.

The researchers tracked seven markers of aging, from inflammation to how genes turn on and off. Vaccinated individuals scored better across multiple measures, showing less inflammation and healthier cellular patterns overall.

The benefits appear to last, too. People who got vaccinated four or more years before testing still showed slower aging compared to those who never got the shot.

Research Associate Professor Jung Ki Kim explains that chronic low-level inflammation drives many age-related problems like heart disease, frailty, and cognitive decline. Scientists call this "inflammaging."

The vaccine may reduce this background inflammation by preventing the chickenpox virus from reactivating as shingles. That protection could ripple through the body's systems in beneficial ways.

Shingles affects about one in three Americans over their lifetime. The painful, blistering rash comes from the same virus that causes chickenpox, which can hide in nerve cells for decades before resurging.

Anyone who had chickenpox as a kid faces shingles risk, especially after age 50. The vaccine not only prevents the rash but also guards against lasting nerve pain that can follow infection.

Why This Inspires

This study joins growing evidence that vaccines do more than fight single diseases. Recent research has linked adult vaccines for shingles and flu to lower dementia risk and healthier brain aging.

The idea that a simple shot could support healthy aging across multiple body systems offers real hope. While scientists still need to confirm exactly how this works, the potential is exciting.

USC University Professor Eileen Crimmins notes the findings suggest vaccines could become part of broader healthy aging strategies. They might help people maintain resilience and slow decline as they get older.

The research opens doors to rethinking prevention as we age—not just avoiding illness, but actively supporting vitality.