Viagra Cuts Alzheimer’s Risk by Over 50%

Researchers in the US, through an analysis of medical insurance data combined with laboratory research on the genetic and neurological impacts of sildenafil, an FDA-approved drug for erectile dysfunction often marketed as Viagra, have affirmed the medication’s potential in preventing critical proteins in nerve cells from forming harmful tangles, suggesting its potential as a therapy for reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Multiple studies have consistently shown that phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors, which block enzymes, not only enhance blood flow in the penis but also have the potential to prevent the neurodegeneration associated with dementia.

Sildenafil’s Potential in Improving Cognitive Function and Memory Through Tau Protein Regulation

This potential isn’t surprising, given that PDEs play a role in nerve signaling pathways that affect neuroplasticity. Previous animal studies have indicated that the PDE inhibitor sildenafil can decrease the excessive phosphorylation of ‘tau’ proteins in nerve cells, which prevents them from forming toxic tangles, thereby improving cognitive function and memory.

However, not all research has yielded positive results, with some studies failing to observe any effects at the population level. Additionally, while these drugs may have neurological effects, the exact mechanisms behind them are not fully understood.

In the US, researchers utilized neuron cell cultures derived from stem cells donated by Alzheimer’s patients to investigate the metabolic and genetic activity underlying the therapeutic effects of sildenafil. After five days of treatment, these cultured neurons exhibited significantly reduced levels of tau proteins with excess phosphorus, indicating sildenafil’s ability to protect brain cells.

Impact of Sildenafil on Gene Expression Patterns and Alzheimer’s Pathology

Analysis of the cell DNA’s messages revealed numerous gene expression changes, many of which were related to inflammation, impaired nerve communication, and regulation of nerve cell structures. While further research is necessary to elucidate how these subtle influences contribute to Alzheimer’s pathology, understanding the key gene families affected by sildenafil lays a foundation for comprehending its mechanisms of action and potentially the origins of Alzheimer’s.

Another aspect of the study involved employing artificial intelligence to identify indications of sildenafil’s effectiveness at a population level. Previous research utilizing medical insurance data has suggested that sildenafil could lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by approximately 60 percent.

However, these studies relied solely on a single insurance database, potentially overlooking variables that could lead to different conclusions. Additionally, previous research suggested that patients undergoing treatment for pulmonary hypertension (PH), a condition involving high blood pressure in the lungs, did not experience the same reduction in dementia risk.

Investigation of Sildenafil’s Effectiveness Across Pulmonary Hypertension Treatments

In their analysis, the researchers considered four treatments commonly prescribed for PH. They not only confirmed that sildenafil reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s by approximately 60 percent but also discovered that it lowered the risk in individuals with pulmonary hypertension.

Cleveland Clinic biomedical informatician and co-first author Feixiong Cheng expressed satisfaction with the computational integration of a large amount of data, highlighting the observation of sildenafil’s effects on human neurons and real-world patient outcomes.

“We believe our findings provide the evidence needed for clinical trials to further explore the potential effectiveness of sildenafil in Alzheimer’s disease patients,” Cheng stated.

Given that sildenafil already has FDA approval for erectile dysfunction, demonstrating its safety and efficacy in reducing Alzheimer’s risk could offer health authorities a swift solution to address the escalating dementia rates.

With aging populations worldwide, the number of individuals living with dementia is expected to nearly double every 20 years, increasing from approximately 80 million by the end of this decade to nearly 140 million by the middle of the century.

Read the original article on: Science Alert

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