The Alzheimer’s study being conducted by Pfizer and the University of Pittsburgh Schools of Medicine will begin enrolling participants in 2021. The aim of the study is to find whether a drug known as Viagra could slow or stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The drug is already FDA approved to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. It is known to improve blood circulation to the penis, thus helping with erectile dysfunction. Could this drug be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease and will it be effective in preventing and retarding the progress of dementia?
There’s a good reason why Pfizer and the University of Pittsburgh decided to explore the use of Viagra in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The beta-amyloid protein, which forms the plaque that is characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, has been directly linked to ED in the brain. This protein is known to cause blood vessels in the brain to constrict, thus reducing blood flow to the area. It has also been shown to reduce testosterone levels in the brain, which are important for maintaining cognitive function. The loss of testosterone in the brain has been linked with Alzheimer’s disease.
The Basics
Alzheimer’s Disease, also known as dementia, is a neurodegenerative disease and one of the most common causes of dementia. It is a form of senile dementia that is characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. There is no known cause of Alzheimer’s disease; it is only when symptoms appear that doctors can make a diagnosis. The disease usually affects people over the age of 60 and is more common among men than women. However, as the population of older adults grows, so does the number of people affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The only known way to prevent or slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease is through early diagnosis and treatment.
The Viagra Alzheimer’s Study will be a multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. To be enrolled in the study, participants will need to be 18 years of age or older and meet the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) criteria for Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, they must have a diagnosis of ED and not be on any form of medication for ED. To qualify, men must have had a clinical trial for erectile dysfunction and be experiencing ED. Women must have a history of sexual dysfunction or be experiencing sexual dysfunction even at baseline. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either Viagra or a placebo for 12 months.
What Is the Placebo All About?
The placebo in the study is what is known as a “drug-in-place of-a-drug” or a “nontoxic placebo”. It is a sugar pill that looks and tastes like the medication being tested, but in this case it is not. The placebo in the study will be used as a comparison for the treatment group that is receiving the drug to see if it is more effective than a placebo. Just because a participant is receiving a placebo in the study does not mean that they are not benefiting from the treatment. In fact, a recent study published in the British Journal of Surgery found that placebo-treated patients had lower rates of surgical complications than patients who were not. Even if a placebo is not considered therapeutic, it can still have positive effects. This is why placebo-controlled trials are still important today.
The Research Has Spanned The Decades
Just how important is early diagnosis and treatment for Alzheimer’s disease? A recent study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease suggests that earlier treatment could substantially reduce the risk of developing the disease. The study titled “Emerging Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers: A systematic review and meta-analysis” included over 7,600 participants and assessed the effectiveness of blood-based biomarkers for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. The analysis revealed that certain blood-borne proteins and chemicals could be used to identify people at high risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. These molecules could then be used to monitor disease progression and treatment response. While this type of research is important, it is still very early in the development process and more work needs to be done to improve the efficacy of these potential biomarkers.
Why Did Pfizer And The University Of Pittsburgh Partner To Develop This Study?
As previously stated, there is no known cause of Alzheimer’s disease. However, there are numerous risk factors that have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease. From late-life depression to sleep apnea and vitamin deficiencies, there is a wide range of conditions that can increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
One of the most significant risk factors is ED. It has long been thought that one of the main reasons why men are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease is because they are more likely to experience ED. However, even if a man never had a case of ED, he could still have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This is because the only known way to diagnose ED is through a blood test. This test measures the amount of blood flowing to the penis during climax. If this amount is insufficient, the patient is considered to have ED. However, even if the patient has never had a case of ED in his life, he could still have low levels of blood flow to the penis due to arteriosclerosis or other forms of vascular disease.
This is where the University of Pittsburgh and Pfizer come in. With the goal of finding a way to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease at an early stage, the two parties partnered to explore the use of Viagra as a treatment for the disease. The reasoning behind this is that if ED can be positively associated with Alzheimer’s disease, then perhaps a drug to treat ED could be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease. This would be a novel approach because most medications, including Viagra, have not been shown to be effective in treating or preventing Alzheimer’s disease. However, there is one caveat. The research is still in its early stages and a lot more needs to be done before any firm conclusions can be drawn. But, given the goal of preventing Alzheimer’s disease and the fact that patients already have a diagnosis of ED, it might be worthwhile to give this treatment a try.
How Is Viagra Regarded By Alzheimer’s Researchers?
While ED has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, it is still very early in the development process and more research is needed to determine the true nature of this relationship. However, given that ED is such a well-established risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and that there are already treatments available for ED, there is no question that this is an area of real interest. It just remains to be seen whether Viagra can be used to treat or prevent Alzheimer’s disease.