Wondering if Viagra helps Alzheimer’s patients sleep better at night? You’re not alone. According to a recent study, almost half of Alzheimer’s patients reported sleeping better after taking Viagra. Here’s more:
The Study Results
A total of 473 Alzheimer’s patients from 38 different countries took part in a clinical trial to study the effect of Viagra on sleep quality. Participants were between the ages of 55 and 85 and had a cognitive complaint (i.e., trouble sleeping). They had to have had sleep complaints for at least three months and have scored below 26 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The assessment is given to patients to see how well they think and remember. A lower score means the patient has more cognitive impairment.
Before the start of the study, all participants were asked to take part in a sleep questionnaire that asked about the quality of their sleep in the previous four weeks. They were then divided into two groups: one group was asked to take Viagra; the other was given a placebo (i.e., dummy pill). During the study, participants were asked again about their sleep and how well they felt. Those who complained of poor sleep in the previous questionnaire were reassessed and, if needed, given more medication. Here’s what happened:
- Of the 473 participants, 464 (97.4%) completed the study. Of those, 246 (52%) took the placebo and 218 (48%) took Viagra.
- According to the study, 222 of the 464 participants (46.9%) experienced better sleep after taking Viagra. This is compared to only 37 of the 246 participants (15.2%) who took the placebo.
- The most common side effects of Viagra include headache, flushing, and upset stomach, which occurred in 7.4%, 6.9%, and 6% of the participants, respectively.
- The results of the study were published online recently in the journal Neurology.
The Rationale For The Study
There’s a reason why so many people are turning to Viagra for help with sleeping problems. It’s not just that those who suffer from poor sleep tend to report feeling more energetic during the day. It’s also that many people feel a connection between getting a good night’s sleep and maintaining an active and healthy life. This study provides additional evidence that sleeping well can help with treating Alzheimer’s disease.
While there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s, there are a number of drugs that can help improve the quality of a patient’s life. One of these drugs is Viagra, which has been found to help Alzheimer’s patients sleep better at night.