A new study suggests that the shingles vaccine may slow biological aging and reduce inflammation in older adults. Researchers analyzed data from over 3,800 Americans aged 70 and older, finding that vaccinated individuals showed better markers of aging compared to those who were not. The findings highlight potential broader health benefits from the vaccine beyond preventing the rash.
New research from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology indicates that the shingles vaccine could influence biological aging positively. The study, published on January 20, 2026, in the Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, drew from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study. It examined more than 3,800 adults aged 70 and older as of 2016, adjusting for health and demographic differences.
Shingles, or herpes zoster, occurs when the varicella zoster virus reactivates, causing a painful rash with blisters. The risk increases after age 50 and is higher in immunocompromised people. The vaccine, recommended for older adults, lowers the chances of shingles and postherpetic neuralgia, a lingering nerve pain.
The researchers assessed seven markers of biological aging: inflammation, innate immunity, adaptive immunity, cardiovascular hemodynamics, neurodegeneration, epigenetic aging, and transcriptomic aging. They created an overall biological aging score from these. Vaccinated participants displayed lower inflammation levels, slower epigenetic and transcriptomic aging, and improved overall scores compared to unvaccinated ones.
Jung Ki Kim, the study's first author and research associate professor of gerontology, explained that low-grade inflammation, termed "inflammaging," contributes to conditions like heart disease, frailty, and cognitive decline. "By helping to reduce this background inflammation—possibly by preventing reactivation of the virus that causes shingles, the vaccine may play a role in supporting healthier aging," Kim said. The benefits appeared to last at least four years post-vaccination.
Eileen Crimmins, USC University Professor and AARP Professor of Gerontology, added, "These findings indicate that shingles vaccination influences key domains linked to the aging process." The study suggests vaccines might promote healthy aging beyond infection prevention, though more research is needed.
