Study Reveals Potential Effect of Viagra on the Brain
The famous blue pill may have more benefits than just treating erectile dysfunction. According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford in England, Viagra® (sildenafil) could reduce the risk of vascular dementia. Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia in the elderly, after Alzheimer’s disease. It is characterized by a loss of cognitive function due to the destruction of brain tissue, as blood supply is reduced or blocked, often as a result of a stroke.
Currently, there is no treatment available for this condition. Researchers at Oxford conducted a study to compare the effects of several existing medications, including sildenafil and cilostazol (another vasodilator), against a placebo. The study involved 75 individuals who had experienced a minor stroke and showed signs of small vessel disease, another cause of vascular dementia. The researchers found that Viagra® was able to penetrate the brain’s blood vessels and increase blood flow.
Dr. Alastair Webb, an associate professor at the Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia at Oxford, stated that this study demonstrates the potential of Viagra® in preventing dementia by improving blood flow and vascular reactivity in the brain. These factors are associated with chronic damage to the brain’s small blood vessels, which are the most common cause of vascular dementia.
The findings of this study are promising and suggest that existing medications targeting reduced blood flow in the brain’s small blood vessels could help prevent vascular dementia. Further research and larger-scale trials are needed to confirm these results and explore the potential of Viagra® in preventing this debilitating condition.