Viagra, also known as sildenafil, was originally designed as a heart medication that relaxes and widens blood vessels, improving blood flow. However, when it was noticed that the drug showed this effect in other parts of the body, including the penile arteries, besides the heart, Viagra began to be used for erectile disorders as well. According to some experts, it is very likely that the drug will achieve successful results in other areas as well.
Scientists from the USA, who researched the effects of Viagra on the brain, believe that the drug, which is largely used to strengthen sexual performance, can also be used against Alzheimer’s disease. According to research, when taken in high doses, Viagra reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s by targeting some proteins that accumulate in Alzheimer’s patients.
More tests needed to confirm Viagra’s effect on Alzheimer’s
In the study, which examined 7 million cases, it was discovered that the risk of Alzheimer’s was much lower in men using Viagra. According to experts, this study; It is extremely important that using an already existing drug is faster, simpler and cheaper than finding a new treatment.
Dr Feixiong Cheng, who led the research, said the findings were extremely promising; however, he noted that more research is needed to prove Viagra’s success on Alzheimer’s. “Our findings only establish an association between the use of sildenafil and a reduced incidence of Alzheimer’s disease,” Cheng said, adding that randomized clinical tests are currently planned to confirm clinical benefits for Alzheimer’s patients.
Dr Jack Auty, a lecturer in the Department of Medical Sciences at the University of Tasmania, thinks the research should be approached with a little more skepticism. “In the field of Alzheimer’s disease research, many drugs have excited us over the years, but clinical trials have failed us. I will follow this research group and the research around sildenafil closely,” Auty said.
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