Vascular dementia is one of the most common forms of dementia, caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. With the number of people living with dementia expected to rise from 55 million today to 139 million by 2050, scientists are urgently looking for new treatment options.
A recent study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia took a closer look at tadalafil, a medication commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction, to see if it could be repurposed to help people with this challenging brain condition.
Tadalafil belongs to the same group of drugs as Viagra (sildenafil) and vardenafil, which are designed to increase blood flow by relaxing blood vessels. Previous studies hinted that these drugs might also benefit the brain by improving blood flow and possibly slowing down or preventing the progression of dementia.
Tadalafil was chosen for this trial because it stays in the body longer and may be better at reaching the brain than other drugs in its class. Researchers hoped that this could make it a strong candidate for treating vascular dementia, especially since many patients with this condition experience reduced blood supply to key areas of the brain.
The study was a phase II clinical trial, co-sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation in the U.S. and the UK Alzheimer’s Society. It focused on elderly people with narrowed brain arteries, a condition that increases the risk of strokes and vascular dementia.
To track changes in blood flow, the researchers used an advanced MRI technique called arterial spin labeling, which measures brain blood flow without needing any injections or radioactive materials.
Overall, the results showed no significant difference in blood flow between those who took a single dose of tadalafil and those who took a placebo. However, something interesting did emerge: among participants over 70 years old, there was a slight trend toward improved blood flow in a part of the brain called white matter, which is often affected in vascular dementia.
Importantly, there were no serious side effects, which suggests the drug is safe to use in this older population.
While this study didn’t prove that tadalafil improves brain health, it has opened the door for future research. Dr. Jeremy Isaacs, a neurologist involved in the study, explained that a single dose may not be enough to see real results. He believes that testing longer-term use could show more promise.
Dr. Atticus Hainsworth, another researcher, pointed out that repurposing existing medications like tadalafil is smart science: it saves time, money, and avoids the risks of testing brand-new drugs because the safety profile is already well understood.
Katherine Gray from the Alzheimer’s Society added that they’re hopeful about further studies that will explore different doses and longer treatment periods to better understand how tadalafil might help people with vascular dementia.
This study may not have delivered a clear breakthrough, but it offers an exciting new direction in the fight against dementia. Since tadalafil is already widely used and considered safe, it could become a practical and affordable treatment—if further research confirms its benefits.
For now, the message is one of cautious optimism. More studies are needed to determine whether tadalafil or similar drugs can truly make a difference in brain health, especially for older adults at risk of vascular dementia.
As science continues to explore new uses for familiar medications, studies like this remind us that help could come from unexpected places—even a pill originally designed for a very different purpose.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about inflammation that may actually slow down cognitive decline in older people, and low vitamin D may speed up cognitive decline.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about common exercises that could protect against cognitive decline, and results showing that this MIND diet may protect your cognitive function, prevent dementia.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
