Viagra (Sildenafil) mostly used for erectile dysfunction, also has the potential to prevent Dementia (memory loss), shows an Oxford Trial published on June 4.
Claimed to be the first trial, this double blind pathbreaking research shows that Sildenafil, which is an active ingredient used in commonly known drug Viagra, not only opens blood vessels of the penis but also has the capability to open minute blood vessels of the brain, thus improving blood flow and resulting in improvement of memory loss.
Over 75 patients of minor stroke who suffered mild to moderate small vessel disease (early signs of dementia) took part in this study which has been titled ‘Cerebrovascular Effects of Sildenafil in Small Vessel Disease: The OxHARP Trial’ and published in journal of Circulation Research.
Co-author of this pathbreaking research, Dr Alastair Webb, who is also the associate professor at the Wolfson Centre for prevention of Stroke and Dementia said, “This is the first trial to show that sildenafil gets into the blood vessels in the brain in people with this condition, improving blood flow and how responsive these blood vessels are.”
Dr Webb added,” These two key factors are associated with chronic damage to the small blood vessels in the brain, which is the commonest cause of Vascular Dementia. This demonstrates the potential of this well tolerated, widely available drug to prevent Dementia, which needs testing in large trials.”
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According to Dr Rajeev Mehta, Senior Psychiatrist, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, “This is a pathbreaking trial linking Sildenafil with improvement in Vascular Dementia. This is a type of dementia, that affects thinking, memory and day to day behaviour, is due to conditions that damage blood vessels and disrupt blood flow to brain. India has a high burden of cognitive disease impairment due to vascular disease. It is important to note that in Vascular Dementia, memory deficiency or forgetfulness occurs in steps.”
According to an article in Science Direct, “The burden of vascular contribution to cognitive impairment and dementia is substantially high in India. There are approximately 5.3 million dementia patients in India and nearly 40 percent are estimated to be due to vascular Dementia.”
According to Dr Jitendra Nagpal, Chaiman, The Institute of Mental Health, Moolchand Hospital, “Further comprehensive multi-centric trials are needed to substantiate these findings, however, any benefits to chronic suffering of such dementias would be a welcome step in the cognitive recovery. Besides increasing age, vascular dementia can also happen with stroke, wherein blood supply to parts of the brain is suddenly cut off or reduced. This damages and eventually kills brain cells. There is narrowing and blockage of the small blood vessels inside the brain.”
Here are some signs and symptoms of dementia
- Forgetting recent events or information
- Repeating same questions or comments again and again over a short period of time
- Misplacing things or keeping them at unusual spots
- Having difficulty in choosing right words
- Change in behaviour, mood or interests
In India, Sildenafil is available in the strength of 25mg to 100 mg and is commonly available across the chemist shops, costing roughly Rs 25 per tablet.
