172 – Shingles in Aging: Symptoms, Treatment, and the Shingles Vaccine Explained

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains shingles and why it’s an important issue for older adults. She also reviews how shingles is diagnosed and treated, and the many benefits of the shingles vaccine.

She covers:

• Introduction: Why Shingles Prevention Matters
• What Is Shingles?
• Why Shingles Risk Increases With Age
• Common Symptoms of Shingles
• How Shingles Is Diagnosed and Treated
• Post-Herpetic Neuralgia: Chronic Nerve Pain After Shingles
• The Shingles Vaccine (Shingrix): What to Know
• Additional Benefits: Dementia, Stroke & Heart Risk Reduction
• Shingles Vaccine FAQs
• Recap and Key Takeaways

Related episode: 168 – COVID & Fall Vaccines 2025: What Older Adults Should Know

Related Resources:

• CDC: Shingles Vaccination
• Nature Medicine: Varicella-zoster virus reactivation and the risk of dementia