The FDA-approved medicine sildenafil, which is administered for erectile dysfunction, can soon be part of the therapy to decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers in the United States, have analysed medical insurance data and carried out a laboratory investigation of sildenafil's genetic and neurological effects. Sildenafil is a drug which is popularly sold under the brand name Viagra.&nbsp;

The researchers in the United States validated the potential of the medication in maintaining critical proteins in nerve cells from getting into a deadly mess.&nbsp;

Recent studies carried out have again and again shown that enzyme blockers known as phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors are not only able to increase blood flow in the penis but can also prevent neurodegeneration which leads to dementia.

The potential of the enzyme blockers should not be surprising since the PDEs are known to remain involved in nerve signalling pathways which influence neuroplasticity.&nbsp;

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/frequently-nose-picking-leading-cause-of-progressive-dementia-study-687765">Frequent nose-picking leading cause of progressive dementia: Study</a>

As per earlier investigations on animal models, the PDE inhibitor sildenafil decreases the excessive phosphorylation of 'tau' proteins in nerve cells which leads them to form toxic tangles and helps improve cognitive health and memory.

However, some studies were not able to register an effect on the population level at all. &nbsp;

And though, the drug&nbsp;does not have an effect on a neurological level, the mechanism involved in the process is still not fully understood.

<h2>Cell cultures of neurons used by researchers to study Viagra's effect&nbsp;</h2>

In the United States, the researchers used cell cultures of neurons, which were created using stem cells donated by patients with Alzheimer's, to sketch the metabolic and genetic activity behind the therapeutic effects of sildenafil.&nbsp;

After five days of treatment, significantly lower levels of tau proteins were produced by the laboratory-grown neurons in which phosphorus in high concentration was added, which confirmed sildenafil's potential to protect brain cells.

Watch:&nbsp;Celebrities who've been diagnosed with rare diseases &amp; more

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/celebrities-whove-been-diagnosed-with-rare-diseases-more-695859/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

When the researchers went through the messages produced by the DNA of the cells, they found multiple changes in the expression of genes, many of which involved the communication breakdown between nerves, inflammation and guidance of nerve cell structures.

Even though additional studies will be required to understand how these subtle influences are involved in the pathology behind Alzheimer's, the researchers have understood that the main gene families affected by sildenafil gave a solid foundation for understanding why this works and why Alzheimer's is developed in some brains in the first place.

"After integrating this large amount of data computationally, it is rewarding to see sildenafil's effects in human neurons and real-world patient outcomes," said Cleveland Clinic biomedical informatician and co-first author Feixiong Cheng, reported Science Alert.

The FDA-approved medicine sildenafil, which is administered for erectile dysfunction, can soon be part of the therapy to decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

The FDA-approved medicine sildenafil, which is administered for erectile dysfunction, can soon be part of the therapy to decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease. The researchers in the United States, have analysed medical insurance data and carried out a laboratory investigation of sildenafil's genetic and neurological effects. Sildenafil is a drug which is popularly sold under the brand name Viagra. The researchers in the United States validated the potential of the medication in maintaining critical proteins in nerve cells from getting into a deadly mess. Recent studies carried out have again and again shown that enzyme blockers known as phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors are not only able to increase blood flow in the penis but can also prevent neurodegeneration which leads to dementia. The potential of the enzyme blockers should not be surprising since the PDEs are known to remain involved in nerve signalling pathways which influence neuroplasticity. Also Read: Frequent nose-picking leading cause of progressive dementia: Study As per earlier investigations on animal models, the PDE inhibitor sildenafil decreases the excessive phosphorylation of 'tau' proteins in nerve cells which leads them to form toxic tangles and helps improve cognitive health and memory. However, some studies were not able to register an effect on the population level at all. And though, the drug does not have an effect on a neurological level, the mechanism involved in the process is still not fully understood. Cell cultures of neurons used by researchers to study Viagra's effect In the United States, the researchers used cell cultures of neurons, which were created using stem cells donated by patients with Alzheimer's, to sketch the metabolic and genetic activity behind the therapeutic effects of sildenafil. After five days of treatment, significantly lower levels of tau proteins were produced by the laboratory-grown neurons in which phosphorus in high concentration was added, which confirmed sildenafil's potential to protect brain cells. Watch: Celebrities who've been diagnosed with rare diseases & more When the researchers went through the messages produced by the DNA of the cells, they found multiple changes in the expression of genes, many of which involved the communication breakdown between nerves, inflammation and guidance of nerve cell structures. Even though additional studies will be required to understand how these subtle influences are involved in the pathology behind Alzheimer's, the researchers have understood that the main gene families affected by sildenafil gave a solid foundation for understanding why this works and why Alzheimer's is developed in some brains in the first place. "After integrating this large amount of data computationally, it is rewarding to see sildenafil's effects in human neurons and real-world patient outcomes," said Cleveland Clinic biomedical informatician and co-first author Feixiong Cheng, reported Science Alert.

Viagra intake decreases Alzheimer’s risk by more than 50 per cent: Study

A recent study has revealed that footballers are 50 per cent more likely to suffer from dementia compared to the rest of the population.

Researchers from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet&nbsp;published the study in the Lancet Public Health journal which compared 6,000 elite footballers' health records with more than 56,000 non-footballers between 1924 and 2019.

The study revealed that nine per cent of male footballers, who were playing in the Swedish top division, were diagnosed with neurodegenerative disease in comparison to six per cent from the control sample.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-over-10-million-elderly-indians-have-dementia-ai-study-570587">Over 10 million elderly Indians have dementia: AI study</a>

The study then examined the difference in outfield players and goalkeepers’ cognitive health and found that outfield players had more chances of suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. However, the goalkeepers who rarely head the ball had fewer chances of dementia, “supporting the hypothesis that mild head impacts sustained when heading the ball could explain the increased risk in outfield players,” concluded the study.

Karolinska Institutet's assistant professor and the study's co-author Peter Ueda said, “Importantly, our findings suggest that goalkeepers don’t have the same increased risk of neurodegenerative disease as outfield players. Goalkeepers rarely head the ball, unlike outfield players, but are exposed to similar environments and lifestyles during their football careers and perhaps also after retirement.”

Speaking about the possibility of heading the ball leading to dementia, UCL Genetics Institute's honorary professor David Curtis said, “It seems extremely plausible that repeatedly heading the ball during training and normal play produces brain damage which over time can result in dementia.”

WATCH | Scientists reveal how to detect signs of Dementia 9 years before diagnosis

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/scientists-reveal-how-to-detect-signs-of-dementia-9-years-before-diagnosis-550942/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“The fact that the risk to goalkeepers, who rarely head the ball, is not increased, strengthens this hypothesis. If we assume that about one in 10 people would develop dementia anyway, then this means that about one in 20 professional footballers will develop dementia who would not otherwise have done so, as a result of heading the ball,” he added.

Emphasising the need for appropriate measures to protect the health of the players, associate director of research at Alzheimer’s Society, Dr Richard Oakley said, “We now urgently need more answers to determine what lies behind this link – why dementia would start to form, how the type of injury, frequency and age at which head injuries occur may influence risk, and how we can accurately predict who is likely to go on to develop dementia after a traumatic brain injury. Sporting bodies need this clarity so they can put in place appropriate measures to protect players.”

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>. 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

A recent study has revealed that footballers are 50 per cent more likely to suffer from dementia compared to the rest of the population. Researchers from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet published the study in the Lancet Public Health journal which compared 6,000 elite footballers' health records with more than 56,000 non-footballers between 1924 and 2019.

A recent study has revealed that footballers are 50 per cent more likely to suffer from dementia compared to the rest of the population. Researchers from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet published the study in the Lancet Public Health journal which compared 6,000 elite footballers' health records with more than 56,000 non-footballers between 1924 and 2019. The study revealed that nine per cent of male footballers, who were playing in the Swedish top division, were diagnosed with neurodegenerative disease in comparison to six per cent from the control sample. ALSO READ | Over 10 million elderly Indians have dementia: AI study The study then examined the difference in outfield players and goalkeepers’ cognitive health and found that outfield players had more chances of suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. However, the goalkeepers who rarely head the ball had fewer chances of dementia, “supporting the hypothesis that mild head impacts sustained when heading the ball could explain the increased risk in outfield players,” concluded the study. Karolinska Institutet's assistant professor and the study's co-author Peter Ueda said, “Importantly, our findings suggest that goalkeepers don’t have the same increased risk of neurodegenerative disease as outfield players. Goalkeepers rarely head the ball, unlike outfield players, but are exposed to similar environments and lifestyles during their football careers and perhaps also after retirement.” Speaking about the possibility of heading the ball leading to dementia, UCL Genetics Institute's honorary professor David Curtis said, “It seems extremely plausible that repeatedly heading the ball during training and normal play produces brain damage which over time can result in dementia.” WATCH | Scientists reveal how to detect signs of Dementia 9 years before diagnosis “The fact that the risk to goalkeepers, who rarely head the ball, is not increased, strengthens this hypothesis. If we assume that about one in 10 people would develop dementia anyway, then this means that about one in 20 professional footballers will develop dementia who would not otherwise have done so, as a result of heading the ball,” he added. Emphasising the need for appropriate measures to protect the health of the players, associate director of research at Alzheimer’s Society, Dr Richard Oakley said, “We now urgently need more answers to determine what lies behind this link – why dementia would start to form, how the type of injury, frequency and age at which head injuries occur may influence risk, and how we can accurately predict who is likely to go on to develop dementia after a traumatic brain injury. Sporting bodies need this clarity so they can put in place appropriate measures to protect players.” (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Footballers have 50 per cent chances of developing dementia, study reveals

50-per-cent

50 Per Cent, News on 50 Per Cent, stories on 50 Per Cent, articles on 50 Per Cent, 50 Per Cent stories at Wion, 50 Per Cent news, 50 Per Cent latest news

50 per-cent

Viagra intake decreases Alzheimer’s risk by more than 50 per cent: Study

Footballers have 50 per cent chances of developing dementia, study reveals