Shingles Shot May Slow Biological Aging

Study finds vaccine linked to reduced inflammation and slower cellular aging in older adults

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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A new study from the University of Southern California suggests that the shingles vaccine may do more than just prevent the painful rash - it may also slow down biological aging in people 70 and older. Researchers examined data from over 3,800 older adults and found that those who received the shingles vaccine had lower levels of long-term inflammation and slower changes in gene regulation and expression compared to unvaccinated peers, even years after receiving the shot.

Why it matters

These findings add to growing evidence that adult vaccines like the shingles and flu shots may provide additional benefits beyond just preventing illness, potentially reducing the risk of age-related conditions like dementia. As the population continues to age, understanding how to slow biological aging is an important public health priority.

The details

The study, published in the Journal of Gerontology, looked at measures of inflammation and cellular aging markers in older adults who had received the shingles vaccine. Vaccinated participants showed lower levels of chronic, low-grade inflammation as well as slower "epigenetic" and "transcriptomic" aging - changes in how genes are regulated and expressed. These benefits were seen even in those who had received the vaccine 4 or more years earlier.

  • The study was published on February 27, 2026.

The players

University of Southern California

The research institution where the study was conducted.

Journal of Gerontology

The academic journal that published the study.

Pascal Geldsetzer

A researcher at Stanford University who published a separate study on the potential dementia benefits of the shingles vaccine.

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What they’re saying

“Our best guess is that shingles vaccination averts one in five new dementia diagnoses over a seven-year period.”

— Pascal Geldsetzer, Researcher (The Economist)

What’s next

More research is still needed, particularly on the newer Shingrix version of the shingles vaccine that is now widely available.

The takeaway

This study provides further evidence that adult vaccines like the shingles shot may have benefits beyond just preventing illness, potentially helping to slow down biological aging and reduce the risk of age-related conditions in older adults.