Viagra could slash risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 60%: study

Health

By Brooke Steinberg

Viagra could cut the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 60%, according to a new study.

Researchers from Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York found that Viagra (sildenafil), a drug most commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction, blocks an enzyme found in the brains of those who suffer from the disease.

The study looked at more than 27,000 people over 65, comparing half of the participants who had been prescribed sildenafil with half who had not. Findings showed that Viagra suppresses a protein called PDE5.

In Alzheimer’s patients, PDE5 is “significantly increased” in the part of the brain that manages memory.

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

The little blue pill also increases blood supply, which is considered to improve brain health — and even potentially treat dementia.

In 2023, about 6.7 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

The number of people 65 and older diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is expected to grow to 12.7 million by 2050.

A study released in January also found that Viagra lowers the risk of heart disease in men by up to 39% — and it even helps reduce the risk of early death.

Viagra users were 17% less likely to suffer heart failure and had a lesser chance (22%) of developing unstable angina, which is when plaque in the coronary artery doesn’t allow oxygen and blood to flow to the heart.

Men who used those drugs also had a longer life span on average. Throughout the duration of the study period, their risk of early death dropped by 25%.