New research led by the Cleveland Clinic suggests that sildenafil (commonly known as Viagra) could be repurposed as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. The study, spearheaded by Feixiong Cheng, Ph.D., utilized computational models, insurance claims data, and observations from brain cells of Alzheimer’s patients to provide evidence supporting the potential efficacy of sildenafil in combating this devastating neurological condition.
Alzheimer’s disease is a significant public health concern, with over 6 million Americans currently affected and an expected tripling of incidence by 2050. The urgent need for innovative therapies has prompted researchers to explore drug repurposing as a practical approach to accelerating the development of new treatment strategies.
The findings, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, build upon previous research in 2021 that identified sildenafil as a promising candidate for Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment. In the latest study, Dr. Cheng and his team analyzed de-identified insurance claims data from two patient databases, revealing a 30–54% lower prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease among patients who took sildenafil compared to those who did not.
Furthermore, the researchers demonstrated in brain cells from Alzheimer’s patients that sildenafil reduced levels of neurotoxic tau proteins associated with the disease and promoted the expression of genes linked to cell growth, improved brain function, and reduced inflammation—processes that can protect against neural degeneration in Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Cheng’s study highlights the potential of using computational models to identify new drug candidates efficiently, representing a significant advancement in Alzheimer’s drug discovery. The findings underscore the need for clinical trials to further investigate the effectiveness of sildenafil in treating Alzheimer’s disease.
Co-authors of the study include experts from the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, and the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas. Postdoctoral research associates Dhruv Gohel, Ph.D., and Amit Gupta, Ph.D., played key roles as co-first authors in the research.
The research team remains optimistic about the implications of their findings and sees the potential for sildenafil to offer a new therapeutic option for Alzheimer’s patients. The study’s multidimensional approach, encompassing computational models, real-world patient data, and cellular observations, provides a robust foundation for further exploration of sildenafil’s role in tackling Alzheimer’s disease.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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