The famous blue pill may have more benefits than just helping with erectile dysfunction. According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford (England), Viagra® (sildenafil) could reduce the risk of vascular dementia. Vascular dementia is the second leading cause 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, usually due to a stroke, according to the MSD Manual. Currently, there is no treatment for this condition, which is why the English researchers conducted their study.
They compared the effects of several existing medications, sildenafil, cilostazol (a medication that also has a vasodilator effect), and a placebo, over three weeks with 75 people who had experienced a minor stroke and showed signs of small vessel disease, another cause of vascular dementia. The researchers found that Viagra® entered the brain’s blood vessels and increased blood flow. “Sildenafil increased cerebral vascular reactivity and perfusion,” the study authors noted. Viagra® is known for its effects on blood circulation, making it a treatment for erectile dysfunction and hypertension. A recent study also found that the blue pill could reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 60%.
Dr. Alastair Webb, an associate professor at the Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia at Oxford, stated that this trial showed that sildenafil enters the brain’s blood vessels in people with this disease, improving blood flow and vascular reactivity. These factors are associated with chronic damage to the brain’s small blood vessels, the most common cause of vascular dementia. This demonstrates the preventive potential of this well-tolerated and widely available medication, which should be tested in larger trials. Chronic damage to cerebral blood vessels is also a major cause of brain hemorrhages and strokes, making this research even more important.
Professor Peter Rothwell, founding director of the Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia, also commented on the study. He mentioned that the results are encouraging and highlight the possibility of preventing vascular dementia with existing medications that target the underlying reduction in blood flow in the brain’s small blood vessels. This research shows the potential benefits of Viagra beyond its traditional uses.