Hey there, great news! Scientists from the University of Oxford in England have made a fascinating discovery in the realm of dementia treatment. And guess what? It involves the unexpected hero, Viagra!
First things first, let’s talk numbers. In 2014, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that over 5 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with dementia. It’s a condition that affects memory, reasoning, and decision-making abilities.
Now, when it comes to dementia, Alzheimer’s takes the spotlight, making up 60-80% of cases. However, about 10% of dementia cases can be linked to blood circulation problems in the brain, including strokes. Risk factors like diabetes, high blood cholesterol, and hypertension can contribute to vascular dementia.
So, how does Viagra fit into this puzzle?
Viagra, also known by its generic name sildenafil, is famous for aiding erectile dysfunction by boosting blood flow to the penis. However, a recent study suggests that it might also enhance blood flow in the brain.
Lead researcher Alastair W., an Associate Professor from Oxford University’s Wolfson Centre of Prevention of Stroke & Dementia, hailed this study as the “first trial” demonstrating sildenafil’s ability to reach the brain’s blood vessels in patients with dementia.
Chronic damage to small blood vessels in the brain is a major cause of vascular degeneration. The research team, led by Alastair, discovered that sildenafil improved blood flow in both small and large brain vessels in 75 patients, as published in the journal Circulation Research.
Webb stated that this study indicates the potential for sildenafil, a well-tolerated and widely available drug, to be used in dementia treatment, pending further large-scale trials to confirm its efficacy.
The team is now gearing up to conduct more extensive studies to explore sildenafil’s potential on a broader scale. In a press release, Peter Rothwell, the founder of the Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia and a clinical neurology professor at the University of Oxford, praised the promising outcomes and the prospect of preventing vascular dementia using existing drugs to target reduced blood flow in the brain’s small vessels.