Viagra may reduce risk of men developing Alzheimer’s
LONDON: Men who take Viagra to treat erectile dysfunction may also reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a study suggests.
Men who had been prescribed drugs for erectile dysfunction were 18 per cent less likely to develop the degenerative brain condition, compared to others with the same medical complaint who were not prescribed them.
The study was observational, which means it could not prove that the drugs themselves were responsible for the reduced risk. It may be that men who take Viagra act in other ways that protect them from dementia. However, the researchers believe that the link — which other research has hinted at — is worth further investigation.
One explanation could be that Viagra and similar drugs increase blood flow in the brain, which may have a protective effect.
