Common ED Med Could Be Treatment for Alzheimer's Says Study
If you watch enough TV, you have indubitably seen countless TV commercials for Erectile dysfunction. According to a Cleveland Clinic study, perhaps the most famous of the ED drugs, Sildenafil (known by the brand name Viagra), has been identified as a promising drug candidate to help prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease.
Through a large-scale investigation of a database of more than 7 million users of the medication, the research showed that Sildenafil is associated with a 69% reduction in the incidence of Alzheimer's disease. Follow-up clinical trial testing of the drug's efficacy in patients with the disease will be necessary.
Sildenafil had been shown to improve cognition and memory in preclinical models significantly. The research team's findings, led by Feixiong Cheng, Ph.D., of Cleveland Clinic's Genomic Medicine Institute, were published in Nature Aging.
"This paper is an example of a growing area of research in precision medicine where big data is key to connecting the dots between existing drugs and a complex disease like Alzheimer's," said Jean Yuan, M.D., Ph.D., program director of Translational Bioinformatics and Drug Development at the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which funded this research.
Testing of Current Meds for Other Uses New Area of Research
Dr. Yuan says this research is one of many efforts being made to find out if existing drugs or available safe compounds for other conditions could be candidates for Alzheimer's disease clinical trials."
Dr. Jean Yuan, Cleveland Clinic
"Notably, we found that sildenafil use reduced the likelihood of Alzheimer's in individuals with coronary artery disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes, all of which are comorbidities significantly associated with risk of the disease, as well as in those without," said Cheng.
Cheng says he foresees this same research approach being applied to other neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Dementia Risk Increasing. Health Insurance and Medicare Won't Help
According to the BrightFocus Foundation, someone in America develops Alzheimer's every 65 seconds. Nearly 500,000 new cases of Alzheimer's disease will be diagnosed this year.
Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia are among the leading causes of long-term health care in the United States and worldwide. Supervision, and help with daily activities, are often provided by unpaid and untrained family members as families discover traditional health insurance, including Medicare and supplements, will not pay for long-term health care services and supports which could go on for many years.
While Long-Term Care Insurance will pay for dementia care and other types of long-term care either at home or in a facility, you cannot purchase coverage if you already have a diagnosis of dementia or other significant health and mobility issues.
Medicaid will pay for long-term care, but the individual must of little or no income and assets to qualify for Medicaid benefits. The lack of planning by many families creates family strain and burden, physically, emotionally, and financially.
Family Caregivers Face Stress and Anxiety
Since dementia has few treatment options and no cure, the costs and burdens created by Alzheimer's and other dementias are adversely affecting family and finances.
Caring for a loved one with dementia is stressful. Bob Mikolich, who runs Amada Senior Care in Westlake, OH, says that introducing caregivers into a loved one's home can be stressful for both the care recipient and their family.
Bob Mikolich, Amada Senior Care
"When that care is for a patient with dementia, it is considerably more complicated and even more stressful. Having a team of caregivers with specific memory care training to deal with behaviors related to a dementia diagnosis is critical. When families know their loved one is being cared for in a manner that is safe, supportive, and nurturing, the stress level usually decreases," said Mikolich.
LTC Costs Rising Rapidly Nationwide
Professional long-term health care is expensive and getting more costly every year due to higher demand and increased labor costs. Most care is delivered at home or in assisted living facilities and is expensive. However, according to the LTC NEWS Cost of Care Calculator, nursing home costs are even more costly. The calculator shows the current and future costs of all types of long-term health care nationwide by state and metro area - Cost of Care Calculator - Choose Your State | LTC News.
LTC NEWS can assist you if you need to find quality care options for your loved one. If they are lucky enough to own Long-Term Care Insurance LTC NEWS offers access to free claims processing and case management with no obligation - Filing a Long-Term Care Insurance Claim | LTC News.
Read this guide as you start the process of finding care for a family member - Finding Quality In-Home Care | LTC News.
LTC Insurance Offers Choice of Quality Care Options
Families that plan in advance and own a Long-Term Care Insurance policy have access to their choice of care options, including home care, adult day care centers, assisted living facilities, memory care facilities, and nursing homes.
The financial strain is lessened; however, long-term care is not just a cash flow issue. Long-term care, including dementia care, is a family problem. Planning for the costs and burdens of changing health and aging will reduce the stress and anxiety from the consequences of long-term health care.
At some point, Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia may have a treatment, maybe even a cure. Even if such treatment or cure happens in our lifetime, it will not end aging and other health and mobility problems that cause a need for extended care and help with daily activities.
Most experts suggest preparing prior to retirement, ideally in your 40s or 50s. Seek help from a qualified Long-Term Care Insurance specialist representing multiple top-rated insurance companies to navigate options and shop for the best coverage at the best value.
Get Help Using LTC Insurance Benefits
Some people who own a Long-Term Care Insurance policy fail to use the benefits. Don't allow a loved one not to use the guaranteed tax-free resources which help pay for quality care options.
If your loved one owns a Long-Term Care Insurance policy, LTC NEWS provides free assistance with no obligation to help you or a loved one complete the claim process. This professional assistance will speed the process and reduce the stress on the family.
You can also support finding quality caregivers and get recommendations for a proper care plan, whether a person has a policy or not. - Filing a Long-Term Care Insurance Claim | LTC News.