Q. I would encourage anyone on the fence about getting the Shingrix vaccine to seriously consider it. My elderly father had the older shingles vaccine but not Shingrix. Several years ago, he had shingles so badly that he was hospitalized twice because the pain was uncontrollable.

Due to the shingles, he now has post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). Although he takes morphine and gabapentin, the daily pain of PHN is almost unbearable. It is so bad that he often cries out loud.

His pain management doctor has prescribed other drugs and performed a nerve block, but nothing has helped. He went from being an active man prior to shingles (bowling, volunteering, splitting firewood by hand) to someone who is housebound because of post-herpetic neuralgia.

A. What an ordeal! The older version of the shingles vaccine, Zostavax, has been replaced by Shingrix, which is more effective. Not only does it reduce the chance of an episode of shingles, but new research suggests it has other benefits for older people.

The study was presented at IDWeek, a conference on infectious diseases. Scientists analyzed health records of more than 174,000 older Americans from more than 100 health care systems.

They compared the subsequent health of people who got the Shingrix shot to that of those who got a pneumonia vaccine.

After the Shingrix vaccination, people were 50% less likely to get vascular dementia, 27% less likely to have dangerous blood clots and 25% less susceptible to a heart attack or stroke. In addition, they were 21% less likely to die during the follow-up period, which varied from three months to seven years.

Q. I have very high Lp(a) and I know that puts me at high risk for a heart attack. On your radio show, a cardiologist mentioned a study suggesting that aspirin therapy might be helpful for someone like me. What was the dose of aspirin that helped in that study?

A. The guest you heard was Dr. Sotirios “Sam” Tsimikas. He is one of the world’s foremost experts on Lp(a). People who have elevated levels of this blood lipid are at increased risk for heart attacks, strokes and heart valve problems.

Dr. Tsimikas and his colleagues reported that 100 milligrams of aspirin daily reduced cardiovascular complications in older people with elevated Lp(a) levels (Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Oct. 4, 2022). A more recent review concluded that “There is growing evidence for a benefit with aspirin therapy in individuals with elevated Lp(a) without clinical ASCVD” [atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease] (Current Atherosclerosis Reports, April 8, 2025).

You can learn more about Lp(a), why it’s so deadly, and how to manage this risk factor in our “eGuide to Cholesterol Control and Heart Health.” This online resource can be found under the Health eGuides tab at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Long-term aspirin therapy always requires medical supervision.

Q. I am taking Prilosec daily for Barrett’s esophagus. The doctor who prescribed it told me this would be for the rest of my life to prevent cancer. I have read that there is a risk of triggering depression and some memory issues. I am concerned about both.

A. Studies that have assessed the cognitive effects of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole have produced contradictory results (International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Nov. 29, 2024). If vitamin B12 levels are depleted by PPIs, that could negatively affect both memory and mood. The official prescribing information does mention depression under the “Postmarketing Experience” listing.

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features, 300 W. 57th Street, 41st Floor, New York, NY 10019, or email them via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their newest book is “Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them.”