Common erectile dysfunction pill could help prevent dementia, 'pivotal' study suggests

A pivotal Alzheimer's research has revealed that a common erectile dysfunction pill could reduce the risk of vascular dementia.

It has been found that the new medication, sildenafil, commonly known as Viagra, enhances blood flow to the brain and improves the function of brain blood vessels in patients at a heightened risk of vascular dementia.

Dr Alastair Webb, as Associate Professor at the Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia at Oxford University conducted the research on 75 participants.

The study was published in Circulation Research, an American Heart Association journal focusing on basic science & translational cardiovascular research.

The key findings of this research showed that the medication increased blood flow in both large and small brain vessels as measured by ultrasound and MRI scans.

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It enhanced the blood flow response to carbon dioxide, indicating improved cerebrovascular function. It also caused fewer side effects compared to cilostazol, particularly with less incidence of diarrhea.

Dr Alastair said: "This is the first trial to show that sildenafil gets into the blood vessels in the brain in people with this condition, improving blood flow and how responsive these blood vessels are.

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"These two key factors are associated with chronic damage to the small blood vessels in the brain, which is the commonest cause of vascular dementia. This demonstrates the potential of this well-tolerated, widely-available drug to prevent dementia, which needs testing in larger trials".

The significant of this groundbreaking research could revolutionize the treatment and prevention of vascular dementia, which currently has no specific therapies.

Chronic damage to small blood vessels in the brain is the leading cause of vascular dementia and also contributes to 30% of strokes and 80 per cent of brain bleeds.

High blood pressure, reduced brain blood flow, and impaired vessel function worsen these conditions, highlighting the trial's crucial findings.

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Scientists hope that the new steps involving larger-scale trials will prevent vascular dementia on a broader scale.

This research was generously funded by the Wellcome Trust and supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, with special thanks to all the partners and participants involved.

Professor Peter Rothwell, Founding Director of the Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia said: "Professor Webb's findings are very encouraging and highlight the potential for preventing vascular dementia using existing drugs that target the underlying reduction in flow in the small blood vessels in the brain."