106 ms·

This is very interesting. The article points out twice that there is no evidence it's causal, but does proposr some potential causal mechanisms, all told a pret

This is very interesting. The article points out twice that there is no evidence it's causal, but does proposr some potential causal mechanisms, all told a pretty reasonable summary of the finding. I'm curious to know if there is any info related to alzheimers and sex drive. The 70% is based on chance developing alzheimers in the next six years, I wonder if there is any relation between a profile who would seek Viagra - I guess that would be people interested in sex, have an available partner, but having trouble - and one who would be less likely to get alzheimers soon.

galaxyLogic 5y ago
Having a partner might lower the risk of Alzheimer's because having someone to talk to keeps your mind in a working condition. But also, taking Viagra means you are more likely to have sex and having sex might be the thing brain needs for "exercise". I find it somewhat hilarious to think that soon the Covid vaccine infomercials might be extended with "To keep you safe also remember to have sex" .
- lb1lf 5y ago
  > "To keep you safe also remember to have sex" . -While maintaining a safe distance, mind.
  - slavik81 5y ago
    The BC Centre for Disease Control has a set of recommendations: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/prevention-risks/covid-19-and-sex http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19...
    - ethbr0 5y ago
      God bless those socially liberal Canadians! > * Choose sexual positions that limit face-to-face contact. > * Use barriers, like walls (e.g., glory holes), that allow for sexual contact but prevent close face-to-face contact.
      - dotancohen 5y ago
        Another gem of a tip from that fine article: > during sex ... consider keeping contact information for your partner(s) so that > you can reach them if one of you develops symptoms.
      - detaro 5y ago
        And as Berlins Corona regulation puts it: > When supplying fee-based sexual services, practices carried out close to the face are not permitted. (and a bunch more rules)
- waterhouse 5y ago
  Or: Developing Alzheimer's makes you less interested in sex, makes your partner less interested in sex with you (possibly via creating problems with the relationship), and/or otherwise creates obstacles to sex.
  - fer 5y ago
    That was actually my first thought. The link talks about 70% decrease of Alzheimer risk over a 6 year period of Viagra use (vs lack thereof). But early Alzheimer signs have been shown to appear up to 18 years before diagnosis. Memory and thinking tests for these signs from 13 to 18 years before diagnosis show 85% higher risk in those failing. [0] So 6 years is actually a very short window to claim causality, especially when it can be guessed through other means with (my guess) higher accuracy. [0] https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/research/care-and-cure-research-magazine/signs-dementia-seen-18-years-diagnosis https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/research/care-and-cure-researc...
    - OJFord 5y ago
      > So 6 years is actually a very short window to claim causality They're not claiming causality.
      - fer 5y ago
        Nor I said they did.
wruza 5y ago
Viagra et al is not just a boner medicine, and it’s actually a side effect. Low effort link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070727182359.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070727182359.h... Generic info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sildenafil https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sildenafil
raducu 5y ago
I have a funny/sad/gross anecode: my flat neighbor had alzheimer's and I helped his wife for a few years, but really nothing much/special -- just getting him out of bed or off the toilet when he wouldn't budge (I can only imagine what his wife went through). But very frequently when he was on the toilet he would play with his erm... sword and unsheathe it (Easter Europe, I'm cut, he wasn't) and his wife asked me why he did that? And I was like.... "erm.... I think that question is overdue by about 40 years.."
- yhvh 5y ago
  That's pretty special.

galaxyLogic 5y ago

Having a partner might lower the risk of Alzheimer's because having someone to talk to keeps your mind in a working condition. But also, taking Viagra means you are more likely to have sex and having sex might be the thing brain needs for "exercise". I find it somewhat hilarious to think that soon the Covid vaccine infomercials might be extended with "To keep you safe also remember to have sex" .

lb1lf 5y ago
> "To keep you safe also remember to have sex" . -While maintaining a safe distance, mind.
- slavik81 5y ago
  The BC Centre for Disease Control has a set of recommendations: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/prevention-risks/covid-19-and-sex http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19...
  - ethbr0 5y ago
    God bless those socially liberal Canadians! > * Choose sexual positions that limit face-to-face contact. > * Use barriers, like walls (e.g., glory holes), that allow for sexual contact but prevent close face-to-face contact.
    - dotancohen 5y ago
      Another gem of a tip from that fine article: > during sex ... consider keeping contact information for your partner(s) so that > you can reach them if one of you develops symptoms.
    - detaro 5y ago
      And as Berlins Corona regulation puts it: > When supplying fee-based sexual services, practices carried out close to the face are not permitted. (and a bunch more rules)
waterhouse 5y ago
Or: Developing Alzheimer's makes you less interested in sex, makes your partner less interested in sex with you (possibly via creating problems with the relationship), and/or otherwise creates obstacles to sex.
- fer 5y ago
  That was actually my first thought. The link talks about 70% decrease of Alzheimer risk over a 6 year period of Viagra use (vs lack thereof). But early Alzheimer signs have been shown to appear up to 18 years before diagnosis. Memory and thinking tests for these signs from 13 to 18 years before diagnosis show 85% higher risk in those failing. [0] So 6 years is actually a very short window to claim causality, especially when it can be guessed through other means with (my guess) higher accuracy. [0] https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/research/care-and-cure-research-magazine/signs-dementia-seen-18-years-diagnosis https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/research/care-and-cure-researc...
  - OJFord 5y ago
    > So 6 years is actually a very short window to claim causality They're not claiming causality.
    - fer 5y ago
      Nor I said they did.

wruza 5y ago

Viagra et al is not just a boner medicine, and it’s actually a side effect. Low effort link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070727182359.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070727182359.h... Generic info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sildenafil https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sildenafil

raducu 5y ago

I have a funny/sad/gross anecode: my flat neighbor had alzheimer's and I helped his wife for a few years, but really nothing much/special -- just getting him out of bed or off the toilet when he wouldn't budge (I can only imagine what his wife went through). But very frequently when he was on the toilet he would play with his erm... sword and unsheathe it (Easter Europe, I'm cut, he wasn't) and his wife asked me why he did that? And I was like.... "erm.... I think that question is overdue by about 40 years.."

yhvh 5y ago
That's pretty special.