BLUE WONDER
Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs ‘slash your risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 18%’
Plus, all the signs and symptoms of the brian-eating disease you need to know
VIAGRA slashes your risk of Alzheimer’s disease, a study suggests.
Researchers from University College London discovered the little blue bill is a boost for your mind as well as your manhood.
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Medical records from 269,725 men taking medication for erectile dysfunction showed their risk of Alzheimer’s – the top cause of dementia – was 18 per cent lower than average.
Study author Matthew Adesuyan said: “These results are encouraging and may point to a new way to reduce Alzheimer’s risk.”
The use of sex drugs like Viagra and Cialis is increasing as around half of men over 40 experience trouble in the bedroom.
They work by widening blood vessels to improve blood flow to the penis – and also boost circulation to the brain.
Read moe on Alzheimer’s
The study, published in the journal Neurology, said they can travel into the brain and change brain cell activity, showing signs of protecting nerves in animal studies.
It found men’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s was 18 per cent lower over a five-year period if they regularly took the meds.
Chances of disease fell furthest in men who used the medicines most often.
If proven, Viagra-like drugs could also be used to lower women’s risk of the disease, the researchers suggested.
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Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia, making up two-thirds of all cases – equal to around 600,00 people in the UK.
Nearly half of men in the UK report having experienced erection difficulties
Co-author Dr Ruth Brauer added: “These results warrant further research.”
Dr Leah Mursaleen, of the charity Alzheimer’s Research UK, added: “Developing drugs for diseases like Alzheimer’s is a costly process and can take many years.
“Being able to repurpose drugs already licensed for other health conditions could help accelerate progress.
“It would open up new avenues to prevent or treat dementia-causing diseases.”
Two new drugs, named donanemab and lecanemab, have been proven to slow the disease in older people — heralding a new era where it could become treatable.
The potentially game-changing drugs are still in the trial phase, so until they become readily available, catching the disease early promises the best outcomes.
What are the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's?
ALZHEIMER'S disease is the leading cause of dementia, affecting around 600,000 people in the UK.
Alzheimer's disease is a build-up of toxic proteins, usually called amyloid or tau, in the brain.
Clumps of these damage, block off and kill vital nerve cells.
Damage to the nerves in the brain gradually destroys the organ, robbing patients of their muscle control, thinking power and emotions.
The cause of Alzheimer's disease is not well understood but some things can increase your risk:
Age is the biggest risk factor – 95 per cent of cases begin after retirement age and your risk of developing Alzheimer's doubles every five years after the age of 65.
Other risks include:
- Family history of Alzheimer's
- Smoking
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Obesity
- Too little exercise
- Hearing loss
- Head injuries
- Down's syndrome
- Heart disease
- Depression
Alzheimer's often develops slowly over many years and it is usually too late for treatment by the time symptoms get bad.
Early to middle-stage symptoms include:
- Trouble with short-term memory
- Struggling to recall the right words or names
- Increased anxiety or fear of new things or change
- Mood swings or depression
- Confusion
- Getting lost when out and about
- Difficulty sleeping
There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease but medicines can help to reduce the symptoms.
Drugs regulators will in 2024 decide whether to approve a new class of medicines that claim to be able to clear damaging proteins out of the brain in the very early stages of Alzheimer's.
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