Viagra may be a useful treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study.

The erectile dysfunction drug was associated with a 69% reduced risk of Alzheimer’s when accounting for other factors such as race, age and sex.

Men taking Viagra (also known by its generic name sildenafil) had a substantially lower risk and researchers say more work should now be done into the apparent link.

The finding came after experts from Cleveland in the US looked at insurance claims data from more than seven million people and used computer modelling to find drugs that might be useful for dementia.

Hundreds of millions of people are affected by Alzheimer’s around the world and there is currently no effective treatment.

New Alzheimer’s drug that targets cause rather than symptoms approved by US regulator

Follow-up work will include a clinical trial to try to confirm the potential link.

‘Everything I saw, I remembered’: The theatre group helping dementia patients recall their life stories

Retired rugby players who suffered concussions more depressed and anxious, study suggests

Rugby Football League facing legal action from former players after early-onset dementia diagnosis

Lead investigator Dr Feixiong Cheng, from the Cleveland Clinic, said: “Because our findings only establish an association between sildenafil use and reduced incidence of Alzheimer’s disease, we are now planning a mechanistic trial and a phase two randomised clinical trial to test causality and confirm sildenafil’s clinical benefits for Alzheimer’s patients.”

Viagra was originally designed as a drug for the heart, but it was discovered it also increased blood flow to the penis.

Pfizer brought it on to the market in 1998 and the drug proved very lucrative for the US firm. However, cheaper generic versions were eventually released after its patents expired.

Related posts:

Wealthiest 1% ‘polluter elite’ are driving global carbon emissions, says new report ‘Nine minutes of terror’ as China becomes second country to land on Mars NASA’s Mars helicopter spots Perseverance rover from above – can you? ‘Incel’ movement referenced by Plymouth gunman of growing concern to UK police Scientists discover ‘missing piece’ in quantum computing breakthrough Wikipedia says ‘vandal’ defaced site with Nazi flag Bezos might scupper NASA’s 2024 moon landing – if spacesuit delays don’t do it first Royal Navy unveils vision of the autonomous fleet of the future Rock samples found by rover reveal alien life may have existed on Mars, says NASA Pregnant man and multiracial handshake among 37 new emojis – what else is on the way? ‘Potential for damage incalculable’: Experts sound alarm over cyber vulnerability in widely used software Apple and Google ‘duopoly’ criticised for ‘vice-like grip’ over mobile devices