According to a recent study, men who consume drugs like Viagra, intended to treat erectile dysfunction, may have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The research involved studying more than 260,000 men with erectile dysfunction and indicated that those who took the drugs were 18% less likely to develop the condition responsible for dementia. Scientists still need to conduct further research to prove causation and verify the results.
Recently, two new drugs aimed at combatting Alzheimer’s have demonstrated significant potential in slowing down the disease in its early stages. By targeting beta amyloid, the gunge that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers, the drugs could potentially revolutionise the way the disease is treated. Additionally, scientists continue to research existing drugs that can delay or prevent the disease from developing.
Erectile dysfunction drugs were initially formulated to treat high blood pressure and angina. They work on a cell-signalling messenger, which may also have connections to memory. They also influence brain cell functioning, and lab research on animals has indicated that they provide some degree of protection to the brain.
The study conducted by researchers from the University of London examined prescription records of men with erectile dysfunction and compared those who had received erectile dysfunction drugs to others who hadn’t. The researchers found that 8.1 men out of 10,000 person years had contracted Alzheimer’s in the group prescribed the drugs, whereas 9.7 men in the group not using them had developed the condition. The researchers state that this study doesn’t verify that the drugs themselves are reducing individuals’ risk of Alzheimer’s disease but could suggest a new research direction
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