The Vaccine That Might Slow Aging

Happy Monday!

We spend so much of our lives focused on what feels urgent (the to-do list, the symptoms we're managing right now, the appointments we can't miss). But some of the most important health decisions are the small ones we make for the future. This week's digest starts with one of them: the shingles vaccine, which new research suggests may do far more than prevent a painful rash.

We're also looking at why adult friendships feel so hard to make (and why the secret is just being a little brave), a heart health check-in that goes beyond the basics, and how to feed your dopamine without defaulting to your phone, especially during the darker months.

As always, we share women’s health and wellness news that’s evidence-based and thoughtfully explained.

Wishing you good health and happiness!
Nicolle
Editor

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Shingles might not be something you’re thinking about right now, but it should be something you’re aware of.

Shingles is caused by the same virus that gave many of us chickenpox as kids. Unfortunately, the chicken pox virus never fully leaves the body; instead, it lies dormant in the nervous system and can reactivate decades later, often during periods of immune decline, stress, or aging. When it does, it can cause a painful, blistering rash and, in some cases, long-lasting nerve pain that lingers well after the rash fades.

Since risk increases sharply with age, the shingles vaccine is currently advised starting at age 50. However, recent research indicates its benefits may go beyond merely preventing the infection.

Recent studies of thousands of older adults found that those who received the shingles vaccine showed signs of slower biological aging than those who didn’t. Researchers observed lower levels of chronic inflammation and slower changes in markers linked to immune, genetic, and neurological aging. Other large population studies have also linked shingles vaccination to lower risks of dementia, heart disease, and stroke later in life.

This doesn’t mean the vaccine is an anti-aging treatment, and scientists emphasize that these studies show correlation, not direct causation. But they do highlight something important: supporting the immune system as we age may have ripple effects far beyond preventing a single illness.

For many women, the decades leading up to midlife are spent caring for others, managing stress, and delaying long-term health planning unless something feels urgent. The shingles vaccine is a reminder that some of the most meaningful health decisions are to prevent problems later in life.

When you’re in your late 40s or early 50s, including this vaccine on your checklist and discussing timing with your doctor might be one of those future-you decisions you'll be glad you made.

Somewhere between school, work, caregiving, and sheer exhaustion, many of us lose the skill of making new friends — even though we want more connection. The result isn’t just fewer dinner plans; it’s a sense of social thinning that researchers now link to lower well-being and poorer health over time.

People who are especially good at making friends later in life tend to follow a few low-pressure rules. For one thing, they don’t wait for perfect chemistry or lifelong potential. Instead, they act on small sparks of connection, follow up intentionally, and keep the bar for “friendship” flexible. This might look like sending the article you mentioned in passing, actually texting the number you exchanged, or inviting someone to something specific (“Want to grab coffee Tuesday?” instead of “We should hang out sometime”). Many strong friendships start this way — through momentum, not instant intimacy.

Expanding your circle also involves broadening where you look for connections. Some of the most grounding friendships develop in spaces with little social status: a school committee, a walking group, a neighborhood garden, or a weekly class. Mixing ages, backgrounds, and life stages tends to make friendships feel less performative and more sustaining.

It also helps to let go of the idea that every friendship must be a best friend. Some people are weekly text friends. Others are workout friends, dinner-party friends, or “we see each other twice a year and it’s great” friends. All of these count.

Above all, the people who build lasting adult friendships tend to do one thing consistently: they invite. They host, suggest, connect, and follow up because they know that waiting around never works.

Adult friendship is about being a little brave, a bit organized, and ready to accept mild awkwardness for the sake of connection. And that trade-off, as it turns out, is usually worth it.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., responsible for more than a quarter of all deaths, even as treatments improve. Much of that risk comes from conditions that build slowly and silently — high blood pressure, cholesterol issues, diabetes, poor sleep — and are often missed until they’ve been around for a while.

The good news? Many of the biggest drivers of heart disease are both detectable and modifiable.

Don’t let years slip by without looking under the hood. Scheduling appointments in advance, asking one extra question at your next visit, or making a small tweak to your sleep or movement routine can add up to meaningful results.

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