A new study suggests there may be link between the erectile dysfunction drug and the development of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). You can find out more in the Seasons caregiver news minute below or in our Caregiver Rundown.
The basics:
The study, published in the journal Nature Aging, looked at more than seven million Americans over a six year period and found that those who took the drug Viagra were 69% less likely to develop Alzheimers, compared to those who did not take the drug.
The drug, also known as Sildenafil, is typically prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic analyzed insurance claims by patients on Viagra, and found that those on the drug (mostly men) were significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer’s during the six year course of the study.
What’s next?
Now that the researchers have discovered the correlation, the next step is a clinical trial to test Viagra’s clinical benefit in Alzheimer’s prevention. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It is expected to affect 16 million Americans by 2050.
Want to know more?
Seasons has a dedicated group of experts to help answer your questions on a variety of topics, including Alzheimer’s, dementia and memory care. To ask a question to our experts, you can submit a question at the bottom of this local resource page in the “Ask the Expert” section. Stay tuned for our dedicated Expert section on Seasons in early 2022.
Looking for memory care?
Seasons is also launching a new local directory to help caregivers find the best care in their area. We’re adding new markets and categories of care each day. Visit our local caregiving hub for more information.
