BRAIN BOOST
Viagra can cut your risk of dementia by more than 50%, study suggests
Watch our video explaining the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's
MEN who take Viagra may have up to a 54 per cent lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, a study suggests.
Taking the erectile dysfunction drug was linked to lower chances of the memory-robbing condition, US researchers found.
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They used AI to analyse millions of people on two patient databases to see how their use of the little blue pill impacted their dementia risk.
Dementia was between 30 and 54 per cent less prevalent in those who used Viagra.
Dr Feixiong Cheng, of Cleveland Clinic, said: “Our findings provide further weight to re-purposing this existing FDA-approved drug as a novel treatment for Alzheimer’s, which is in great need of new therapies.
“We used artificial intelligence to integrate data across multiple domains which all indicated sildenafil’s potential against this devastating neurological disease.”
Around 944,000 Brits are currently living with dementia and experts predict the numbers will exceed one million by the end of the decade.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of the condition, and is thought to be caused by build-ups of proteins in the brain, including tau and amyloid.
There is currently no cure for the disease, although promising drugs to slow down its progress are currently in trials.
Viagra, also known as sildenafil, is a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction and is prescribed to millions of British men every year.
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It works by suppressing an enzyme called PDE5, which allows blood to flow more freely through the body, including to the penis.
Viagra slashes men’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease
Previous research has shown it can treat pulmonary hypertension, improve recovery from strokes, reduce altitude sickness and reduce jet lag.
The latest study, published in the , also showed that sildenafil lowers levels of tau proteins in the brain cells of Alzheimer’s patients - which are known to be associated with the disease.
Neurons treated with sildenafil expressed genes related to cell growth, improved brain function and reduced inflammation.
Dr Cheng said: “After integrating this large amount of data computationally, it is rewarding to see sildenafil’s effects in human neurons and real-world patient outcomes.
“We believe our findings provide the evidence needed for clinical trials to further examine the potential effectiveness of sildenafil in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.”
What are the early symptoms of cognitive decline?
WE all notice a natural decline in memory and thinking as we age.
This will be more pronounced in some people, as they experience memory and thinking problems that are mild but still noticeable.
This is described as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Unlike dementia sufferers, people with MCI can still get on with day-to-day life.
Research suggests that two out of 10 people over the age
of 65 have MCI, according to Alzheimer's Research UK.
About one in 10 people who've received an MCI diagnosis will go on to develop dementia.
Symptoms of MCI include:
Memory - Misplacing items or having trouble
remembering recent conversations.
- Attention problems - finding it difficult to concentrate,
e.g. while watching a TV programme or carrying out
duties at work - Disorientation - confusion about time, date or place
- Thinking skills - problems with planning or completing
tasks, e.g. managing money, or cooking a meal - Problems with communication and finding the right words
- Mood and behaviour changes - becoming irritable, anxious,
or feeling low
These symptoms may affect someone with MCI all the
time, or they might come and go.
There are steps we can take to keep our brains as healthy as possible. These include:
- Not smoking
- Doing regular physical activity
- Staying mentally and socially active
- Eating a healthy balanced diet
- Limiting the amount of alcohol we drink
- Having your hearing checked regularly
- Keeping blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol
levels in check
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