Researchers believe Viagra may reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

The Cleveland Clinic analysed a six-year-old database that contained medical information about 7million Americans over 70.

These results revealed that there were adults who had taken these medications. Sildenafil users, which is the main ingredient in little blue pills, had a 69% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s than people who were not taking it. 

Sildenafil (also used for treating high blood pressure) performed well in human studies against Alzheimer’s. 

Researcher Dr Feixiong Chuang admitted that clinical trials were needed in order to determine if the impotence drug works. 

However, separate lab tests have shown that it is capable of increasing brain cell growth as well as preventing the buildup of harmful proteins in the brain.

The condition affects more than half of the Britons. It is estimated that the number will rise to 1.6million in 2040. 

In the meantime, over 6 million Americans have Alzheimer’s. The rates of the disease are expected to increase by 20% in the coming 20 years. 

Although there is no known cure, some medications have been approved that temporarily relieve symptoms. These include acetylcholinesterase inhibitions which allow nerve cells to communicate with one another.  

Sildenafil, which increases blood flow, is sold as Viagra to treat erectile dysfunction and as Revatio for patients with high blood pressure

Sildenafil increases blood flow and is available as Viagra in order to treat erectile disorder, or as Revatio in patients with high blood pressure.

The graph shows the proportion of sildenafil users (green line) not developing Alzheimer's, compared to two treatments being used against the disease in clinical trials (losartan and metformin), as well as anti-diabetic comparator drug glimepiride, which is not used as an Alzheimer's treatment. Over a six-year follow up, more people remained free of Alzheimer's who were taking sildenafil compared to those taking the other three drugs

The graph shows the proportion of sildenafil users (green line) not developing Alzheimer’s, compared to two treatments being used against the disease in clinical trials (losartan and metformin), as well as anti-diabetic comparator drug glimepiride, which is not used as an Alzheimer’s treatment. Over a six-year follow up, more people remained free of Alzheimer’s who were taking sildenafil compared to those taking the other three drugs

While it’s not clear why some people get Alzheimer’s disease, there are several risk factors. These include smoking, obesity, and family history. 

Alzheimer’s disease patients have a reduced blood supply to the brain, which can cause nerve cell loss. 

Sildenafil has been shown to increase blood flow and expand blood vessels in the genitals. Experts believe it may also improve brain function.

Cataract surgery ‘cuts dementia risk’, study finds 

A study found that people who had cataract surgery were 30% less likely to get dementia.

University of Washington researchers found that there was a reduced risk for over-65s living in Seattle. The reduction lasted at most ten years.

Published in JAMA Internal Medicine. The results did not show how surgery decreased dementia risk.

Researchers believe people see more blue light after removing cataracts.

Cataracts can be described as cloudy areas on the cornea of the eyes that develop from aging.

According to experts, blue light might activate retina cells that regulate sleep and cognition.

Cecilia Lee is the lead researcher. She said, “This type of evidence in epidemiology is just as strong as any.”

“This research is truly exciting as it shows that no other intervention can be shown to decrease dementia risk in elderly people.

They stated that the research highlights the importance of further investigation into the effects of dementia on the brain and eye connections.

This drug may also be administered to children or women when it is used to lower blood pressure.

Evidence has been mounting over the past two decades that a buildup in tau and amyloid proteins can cause brain changes that lead to Alzheimer’s. Scientists therefore looked into drugs that could target these proteins.  

To determine whether any of the 1,600 drugs were associated with Alzheimer’s, researchers examined more than 7.2 million patients to find out if they could be linked.

Drug repurposing — when approved medicines also work for other conditions — is more practical and cost effective than developing new treatments, they said.  

Experts think amyloids are responsible for disease-causing factors such as inflammation, dysfunction of nerve cells, and tau buildup. 

According to them, Sildenafil is the best candidate because it targets amyloid as well as tau proteins.

Nature Aging’s study found that sildenafil users are 69% less likely than non-users to have Alzheimer’s in six years.

It did not cause any breakdown, so it was difficult to determine if it should be taken regularly or daily. 

Clinical trials showed that the drug outperformed two other treatments against the same disease.

Sildenafil-treated patients were less likely to contract the disease than people who took losartan, and 55% less likely than sildenafil-treated individuals. 

People with erectile problems usually take 50mg pills up to four hours before they have sex. This is in addition to taking it once per day. Those who are high-blood pressure will take 20mg three days a week.

The study was observational and it’s not certain that sildenafil caused the decreased risk of Alzheimer’s. 

The researchers also created a brain model with stem cells taken from patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease to test sildenafil.

Researchers found that the drug stimulated brain cell growth. It also reduced the levels of tau proteins. These findings could help explain why the drug slows down changes in the brain. 

The original presentation of Dr Cheng’s findings was made at the 2021 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference held in San Diego, California in July.

According to him, the research shows sildenafil is associated with fewer Alzheimer’s patients. Therefore, the team plans on launching clinical trials in order to verify its effectiveness. 

“We foresee our approach being used to other neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease or amytrophiclateral sclerosis, in order to accelerate drug discovery,” he stated.

Viagra’s rise and fall 

1989

Pfizer, a pharmaceutical company, has created sildenafil citrate to treat high blood pressure.

1993

One tester mentioned that it helped him get more erections when he was trying it in Wales. The others say, ‘So did we!’ It’s a breakthrough moment.

March 1998

The drug – now branded Viagra – is approved in the US as the first pharmaceutical product ever for erectile dysfunction. With 10,000 prescriptions issued per day, it quickly became one of the most popular drugs in America.

September 1998

Viagra receives its European license. From July 1999, the NHS starts prescribing Viagra to men with underlying conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or prostate cancer – but Viagra is more widely available by private prescription or from foreign suppliers on the internet.

July 1999

Sex and the CitySamantha, a man-eater, dates an older gentleman who takes the blue pill. Viagra later stars in Ally McBealAnd Law & Order.

 April 2004,

The UK’s first ‘Viagra divorce’ is granted when a middle-aged woman claims the drug made her husband ‘sexually aggressive’.

2007

In England, 1,838,687 prescription items for erectile dysfunction are dispensed.

 Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas

 Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas

January 2010.

Michael Douglas says he’s glad his wife likes older men and praises the drug: ‘Some wonderful enhancements have happened in the last few years – Viagra, Cialis – that can make us all feel younger.’ It also gets its own movie: Love & Other DrugsJake Gyllenhaal portrays a Viagra Salesman.

Michael Douglas praises Viagra for ‘making us all feel younger’. ‘God bless her that she likes older guys,’ he says of his wife, the actress Catherine Zeta Jones. ‘And some wonderful enhancements have happened in the last few years – Viagra, Cialis – that can make us all feel younger.’

 June 2013

Viagra’s European patent expires, so with the unbranded drug sildenafil available at a 93 per cent price drop, the NHS allows prescriptions for a wider range of cases of male impotence.

 2017

There are now 4,223,282 prescriptions for erectile problems.

March 2018,

Viagra legally becomes available for purchase to all men 18 years and older through pharmacy websites or the over-the counter drug called Viagra Connect.

September 2018,

Zava is an online company that offers health services. They admit to having one million Viagra tablets in stock, just in case Brexit affects their medical supply.