Research by University College London (UCL), which studied the medical records of 260,000 men with erectile dysfunction, has sparked interest in the potential of Viagra to lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
The study found that men prescribed Viagra and similar medications were 18% less likely to develop the most common form of dementia later in life compared to those who did not take these drugs. The effect was even stronger in men with the most prescriptions, showing a 44% lower risk of Alzheimer's in those who received 21 to 50 prescriptions over the study period.
However, the study's observational nature means it cannot conclusively prove that Viagra and similar pills protect against Alzheimer's. It's possible that men who are already less prone to the condition are more likely to use these tablets. Lead author Dr. Ruth Brauer emphasized the need for a proper clinical trial to investigate the effects of these drugs on Alzheimer's in both women and men.
The researchers analyzed medical records of men diagnosed with erectile dysfunction but no evidence of memory or thinking problems. Over half of them were taking PDE5 inhibitor drugs, including sildenafil (Viagra), avanafil, vardenafil, and tadalafil. These men were followed for an average of five years to monitor new cases of Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer's disease affects an estimated 55 million people worldwide, with most cases attributed to it. While new drugs targeting abnormal brain proteins have shown promise in slowing down the disease, their effects appear to be limited.
Viagra, originally developed to treat angina and high blood pressure, gained popularity as an erectile dysfunction pill due to its unexpected side effects. PDE5 inhibitors work by relaxing veins and arteries, improving blood flow. Animal studies suggest this could protect against Alzheimer's by enhancing brain blood flow and raising levels of a compound called cGMP, which may protect brain cells.
The study's findings have raised interest in repurposing existing drugs for dementia prevention. However, conducting a blinded placebo-controlled trial for these drugs could be challenging due to their prominent effects.
While this research presents a promising avenue for preventing dementia, further studies are needed to confirm the protective effect of Viagra and similar drugs against Alzheimer's.
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