Common Blue Pill Viagra Could Help Prevent Dementia, New Study Suggests
A groundbreaking study has revealed that a commonly prescribed medication, Viagra, may hold promise in lowering the risk of Alzheimer's disease, offering a potential new avenue for dementia prevention and treatment.
Three Existing Drugs Show Potential for Alzheimer's Prevention
Published in the journal Alzheimer's Research and Therapy, the research evaluated 80 existing medications and identified three "priority candidates" for further investigation. Alongside Viagra (sildenafil), the shingles vaccine Zostavax and the motor neurone disease treatment riluzole were highlighted as having significant potential to be repurposed for Alzheimer's therapy.
Developing entirely new drugs can take 10 to 15 years and cost billions of pounds, with no guarantee of success. Repurposing already licensed and widely used medications offers a quicker, safer, and more cost-effective path to novel Alzheimer's treatments, as reported by Science Daily.
How These Drugs Could Combat Alzheimer's
The international panel of 21 dementia experts, including researchers from universities, hospitals, and the pharmaceutical industry, along with individuals affected by dementia, selected these drugs based on their ability to target biological processes linked to Alzheimer's, promising results in cell and animal studies, and safety for older adults.
- Shingles vaccine (Zostavax): Found to have the most promising potential, this vaccine interacts with the immune system in ways that may counteract harmful changes associated with Alzheimer's. Prior research indicates it could reduce dementia risk by approximately 16%.
- Sildenafil (Viagra): Research suggests it may protect nerve cells and reduce the abnormal buildup of tau protein, a hallmark of Alzheimer's. In mouse studies, it improved thinking and memory, possibly by enhancing blood flow to the brain. Globally, around 16 million people use Viagra, with nearly 3.5 million prescriptions dispensed in England between September 2023 and August 2024.
- Riluzole: Currently used for motor neurone disease, this drug has shown improved cognitive performance and lowered tau levels in animal studies.
Next Steps and Expert Calls for Clinical Trials
Experts are now urging for robust clinical trials to determine whether these medications genuinely benefit individuals with Alzheimer's or those at risk. The shingles vaccine is particularly notable due to its requirement of only two doses and long-standing safety record.
Researchers aim to launch a large-scale UK clinical trial using the PROTECT online registry, where volunteers complete annual health questionnaires and participate in brain health research. Dr Anne Corbett, professor of Dementia Research at the University of Exeter, emphasised the importance of drug repurposing, stating it helps transform today's medicine into tomorrow's treatment.
Prof Fiona Carragher, chief policy and research officer at Alzheimer's Society, compared this approach to aspirin's repurposing for heart health, highlighting drug repurposing as one of the most exciting frontiers in dementia research. The study was funded by Alzheimer's Society and led by the University of Exeter, with support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research and other health research centres.
