The little blue pills of sildenafil, known by its brand name Viagra, may have benefits beyond remedying erectile dysfunction in men, a new study has found. Researchers from the Oxford University have presented surprising, first of its kind findings that suggest that Viagra improve blood flow to the brain that could improve cognitive function and help in preventing problems related to memory such as vascular dementia. The findings which were published in the journal Circulation Research , represent a significant advancement in the battle against vascular dementia.
It could potentially be turning point for the disease which so far has no specific cure, Dr. Praveen Gupta, principal director of neurology at Fortis Gurugram told The Times of India (TOI). What is the condition that it could possibly prevent and how? Let’s delve into details What is vascular dementia? According to Johns Hopkins , vascular dementia significantly impacts cognitive functions such as memory, reasoning, planning, and judgment.
This form of dementia arises from decreased blood flow to the brain, which damages the brain’s functional tissue, known as the parenchyma. The Mayo Clinic notes that strokes, whether minor or major, can severely damage brain tissue, contributing to the development of vascular dementia. Other contributing factors include atherosclerosis, which hardens arteries and reduces blood flow, and brain hemorrhages caused by high blood pressure.
An Oxford study found that chronic damage t.
