A recent study proposes a potential link between erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs and a decreased risk of acquiring Alzheimer’s disease, though it does not establish causality.The research monitored 269,725 men for five years and found that those given ED medication had an 18% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s after factoring in other variables. While medications originally designed for high blood pressure exhibit promise in preventing Alzheimer’s, more research is necessary to validate these findings and investigate the mechanisms behind the association. The study highlights the urgent need for new treatments to delay or prevent Alzheimer’s disease.Key Facts:Participants using ED drugs had an 8.1 per 10,000 person-years rate of Alzheimer’s onset, compared to a 9.7 rate among those not using the medication.After adjustments, those using ED drugs had an 18% reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared to non-users.The study indicates the necessity for further research, including randomized controlled trials, to confirm these results and consider their relevance to women.Source: AANThe drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction may also be associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study published in the February 7, 2024, online issue of Neurology. The study does not prove that erectile dysfunction drugs reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. It only shows an association.Erectile dysfunction drugs, which function by widening blood vessels to allow increased blood flow, were initially developed to treat high blood pressure. A new study suggests that the drugs may be tied to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease. 
The association was strongest in those who were given the most prescriptions throughout the study period. Credit: Neuroscience News”Although we’re making progress with the new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease that work to clear amyloid plaques in the brain for people with early stages of the disease, we desperately need treatments that can prevent or delay the development of Alzheimer’s disease,” remarked study author Ruth Brauer, PhD, of the University College London in the United Kingdom.”These results are encouraging and warrant further research.”The study involved 269,725 male participants with an average age of 59 who were newly diagnosed with erectile dysfunction. Participants did not have any memory or thinking problems at the start of the study.They were then followed for an average of five years. The study compared the 55% of the participants who had prescriptions for erectile dysfunction drugs to the 45% who did not have prescriptions.During the study, 1,119 people developed Alzheimer’s disease.Among the participants taking erectile dysfunction drugs, 749 developed Alzheimer’s disease, which corresponds to a rate of 8.1 cases per 10,000 person-years. Person-years represent both the number of people in the study and the amount of time each person spends in the study.Among those who did not take the drugs, 370 developed Alzheimer’s disease, which corresponds to a rate of 9.7 cases per 10,000 person-years.Once researchers adjusted for other factors that could affect the rate of Alzheimer’s disease, such as age, smoking status and alcohol consumption, they found that people who took erectile dysfunction drugs were 18% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than people who did not take the drugs.The association was strongest in those who were given the most prescriptions throughout the study period.”More research is needed to confirm these findings, learn more about the potential benefits and mechanisms of these drugs and look into the optimal dosage,” Brauer said. “A randomized, controlled trial with both male and female participants is warranted to determine whether these findings would apply to women as well.”The study was based on prescription records. A limitation of the study is that researchers did not have information on whether participants actually filled the prescriptions and used the drugs.
About this neuropharmacology and Alzheimer’s disease research newsAuthor: Renee Tessman
Source: AAN
Contact: Renee Tessman – AAN
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience NewsOriginal Research: The findings will appear in Neurology
