Taking Viagra may shrink risk of Alzheimer's disease by 60% new study finds

25 October 2023 , 10:08

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Viagra may reduce risk of getting Alzheimer's disease (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

People have been told that taking Viagra may reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 60%, in a new study.

Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia in the UK and while the exact cause of it is not yet fully understood, there are a number of things that are believed to increase your risk of getting it, according to the NHS.

It states: “Alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition, which means the symptoms develop gradually over many years and eventually become more severe. It affects multiple brain functions. The first sign of Alzheimer's disease is usually minor memory problems. For example, this could be forgetting about recent conversations or events, and forgetting the names of places and objects.”

And now researchers at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York have found that Viagra, or sildenafil, which is most commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction, blocks an enzyme that is found in the brains of people who are suffering from Alzheimer’s.

There were 27,000 people over 65 who took part in the study with the focus on the PDE5 enzyme which is known to be significantly increased in the region responsible for memory in Alzheimer’s patients.

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And it was found that Viagra appeared to block this enzyme and so halting the progression of the disease. It cut the risk for men by 60% and for women by 47%. It was also discovered in the research that Viagra improved blood supply to the brain and so generally improving brain health and so possibly could be used to treat other forms of dementia.

Study author Xingyue Huo, reported The Sun, said: “We found sildenafil was significantly associated with a 60% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.”

Dr Alexis Missick, a GP working with UK Meds told how PDE5 breaks down substance that allows muscles to relax, reported the Express. The doctor said: “Viagra belongs to a class of medications called PDE-5 inhibitors. PDE-5 is an enzyme that breaks down the substance that causes your smooth muscles to relax (essentially, the substance that causes an erection). By blocking the action of PDE-5, medicines like Viagra and Cialis are able to help men to get and maintain an erection by relaxing the blood vessels that carry blood to the penis.”

Tim Hanlon