There Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by a slow and irreversible degeneration of neurons in the brain, which leads to problems with memory, the performance of daily tasks, orientation in time and space, as well as cognitive functions. It represents 80% of cases of dementia according to the Health Insurance website. If age and genetics play a major role, certain lifestyle habits also favor the development of the disease, such as a sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, or even smoking. It is therefore essential to adopt a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of suffering from Alzheimer’s. But it is also important to detect risks early in order to implement behaviors and treatments that can slow the progression of the disorder.
Alzheimer’s: a study looked at the association between the disease and the use of treatments against erectile dysfunction
A studypublished on February 7, 2024 in the online journal Neurology, attempted to evaluate the association between the use of medications for erectile dysfunction in men suffering from this disorder, and the risks of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The study does not prove that these treatments reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, but only shows an association. Erectile dysfunction medications, originally developed to treat high blood pressure, work by dilating blood vessels to allow better blood circulation.
This work observed over 5 years, 269,725 men, aged on average 59 years, who had recently been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction, but without memory problems at the start of the research. The scientists compared the risks of developing Alzheimer’s disease in the 55% of participants who had prescriptions for erectile dysfunction drugs, and the 45% who did not.
Medications against erectile dysfunction: those taking them have an 18% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s
At the end of the study, the researchers noted that among participants taking treatments for erectile dysfunction, a rate of 8.1 cases per 10,000 person-years developed Alzheimer’s disease, while this rate was 9.7 cases per 10,000 person-years among those who did not have a prescription. The term “person-year” corresponds to both the number of people participating in the study and the time each person spent in this research. After incorporating other factors that may influence the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, scientists determined that people taking erectile dysfunction medications had 18% lower risk to develop this disorder than people who did not take it.
“Although we are making progress with new treatments for Alzheimer’s diseasewe desperately need treatments that can prevent or delay the development of Alzheimer’s disease“, Ruth Brauer, one of the authors of the study, said in a statement. She added that “These results are encouraging and justify continued research.”.
Indeed, this work only showed a statistical association (and not proof of a link) between taking medications for erectile dysfunction and reduced risk to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. “Further research is needed to confirm these findings, learn more about the potential benefits and mechanisms of these drugs, and study optimal dosing” explained Ruth Brauer. She also insisted that “a randomized, controlled trial with male and female participants is needed to determine whether these findings also apply to women”.
These treatments should not be taken outside of the doctor’s instructions and prescriptions.
Sources:
- Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors in Men With Erectile Dysfunction and the Risk of Alzheimer Disease – Neurology – February 7, 2024
- ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION DRUGS MAY BE LINKED TO REDUCED RISK OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE – American Academy of Neurology – February 7, 2024
- Understanding Alzheimer’s disease – Ameli.fr