The FDA-approved medicine sildenafil, which is administered for erectile dysfunction, can soon be part of the therapy to decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers in the United States have discovered that sildenafil, commonly known as Viagra, might have the potential to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Related: Alzheimer’s Disease: Causes, Symptoms, Signs and Treatment
They validated the potential of the medication to keep critical proteins in nerve cells from getting into a deadly mess.
Recent studies carried out have again and again shown that enzyme blockers known as phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors are not only able to increase blood flow in the penis but can also prevent neurodegeneration which leads to dementia.
The potential of the enzyme blockers should not be surprising since the PDEs are known to remain involved in nerve signalling pathways that influence neuroplasticity.
Related: Understanding Dementia: Signs, Symptoms and Coping Strategies
In prior research using animal models, it was found that the PDE inhibitor sildenafil can reduce the excessive phosphorylation of ‘tau’ proteins within nerve cells. This phosphorylation is associated with the formation of toxic tangles, which can impair cognitive function and memory. However, despite these promising findings, certain studies failed to observe a significant effect when applied to populations.
Interestingly, even though the drug doesn’t seem to directly impact neurological function, the precise mechanism by which it operates remains unclear. Researchers utilized neuron cell cultures derived from stem cells of Alzheimer’s patients to investigate how sildenafil works. After five days of treatment, they observed lower levels of tau proteins and various genetic changes related to nerve communication, inflammation, and nerve structure guidance. While further research is needed to fully understand these effects in Alzheimer’s pathology, this study provides insights into why sildenafil may be effective and how Alzheimer’s develops in certain brains.
More about Alzheimer’s:
Alzheimer’s is a brain disorder that gets serious over time. Some changes in the brain occur and lead to deposits of certain proteins. It is the most common cause of dementia, causing a gradual decline in memory, thinking, behavior, and social abilities. About 6.5 million people in the United States age 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s disease. Among them, more than 70% are 75 years old and older. Of the about 55 million people worldwide with dementia, 60% to 70% are estimated to have Alzheimer’s disease.
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