Does Viagra have the potential to decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease?
Viagra, the well-known medication for treating erectile dysfunction, is making waves in the medical community for its potential role in preventing Alzheimer's disease. Researchers are exploring the drug's ability to lower harmful tau protein accumulations in neurons, a key factor in the development of Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer's is a complex neurodegenerative disorder that affects more than 6 million Americans and 55 million people worldwide. The disease is characterised by the build-up of certain neurotoxic proteins in the brain, including the tau protein.
Dr. Feixiong Cheng, a genetic researcher, explains that Viagra may help protect brain cells from dementia and prevent memory loss, thinking, learning, and organizing skill declines associated with Alzheimer's. He states that Viagra targets Alzheimer's biology for a neuroprotective effect.
In studies using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons, sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) has been shown to reduce phospho-tau expression, a marker of Alzheimer's pathology. By lowering tau levels, Viagra might help protect neurons from the toxic effects of tau aggregation and subsequent neurodegeneration.
A large epidemiological study of over 7 million people found that Viagra use was linked to a 69% lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, suggesting a strong protective effect that may be mediated through its impact on tau protein and related pathways. This aligns with laboratory evidence demonstrating that Viagra influences cellular processes involved in Alzheimer's pathology, possibly acting similarly or synergistically with other agents like lithium to prevent or mitigate the disease.
Improved blood flow triggered by Viagra also improves overall brain function and reduces inflammation, factors that can help guard against the neural brain decline associated with Alzheimer's.
The medication sildenafil, commonly known as Viagra, was found to lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by 30% to 54% in a Cleveland Clinic-led study. This finding was based on an analysis of millions of de-identified insurance claims from two independent patient databases.
However, it's important to note that it's not currently possible to get prescribed Viagra for Alzheimer's, and this won't happen until additional research proves it's a safe and effective treatment. Your healthcare provider will be able to provide guidance on whether sildenafil is suitable for you, considering any specific conditions or medications you may be taking.
The hope is that sometime in the next few years, a medication, whether it's Viagra or something else, will be found that can reduce the likelihood of getting Alzheimer's. The use of sildenafil for drug repurposing, or the use of an existing medication for new purposes, is becoming increasingly common as researchers search for solutions to health needs.
Many clinical trials for the development of new Alzheimer's medications addressing neurotoxic proteins have failed in the past decade, fueling the review of existing drugs to find a potential treatment. The repurposing of Viagra for Alzheimer's prevention is a promising development in this area, but more research is needed before it can be considered for treatment.
References:
- Xia, J., et al., Sildenafil reduces tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease models. Nature Medicine, 2020.
- Alzheimer's Association. (2021). What is Alzheimer's?
- Cleveland Clinic. (2021). Viagra may help prevent Alzheimer's disease.
- The potential role of Viagra in preventing Alzheimer's disease is being explored, as it has shown the ability to lower harmful tau protein accumulations in neurons, a key factor in the development of Alzheimer's.
- A large epidemiological study linked Viagra use to a 69% lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, suggesting a strong protective effect that may be mediated through its impact on tau protein and related pathways.
- Improved blood flow triggered by Viagra also improves overall brain function and reduces inflammation, factors that can help guard against the neural brain decline associated with Alzheimer's.
- Despite the promising development in repurposing Viagra for Alzheimer's prevention, more research is needed before it can be considered for treatment, and it's not currently possible to get prescribed Viagra for Alzheimer's.
