Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors: novel weapons against Alzheimer's disease?

Int J Neurosci. 2010 Dec;120(12):746-51. doi: 10.3109/00207454.2010.520381. Epub 2010 Oct 13.

Abstract

Although Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a major health problem in both developing and developed countries, no definite treatment is available for its cure; hence efforts are being focused on introducing disease-modifying agents for slowing down its course. Recent studies on the effects of sildenafil on different organs have shown that PDE-5 inhibitors may offer new horizons in therapeutic treatment of pulmonary hypertension, multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain, and age-related memory impairment. In this paper we introduce PDE-5 inhibitors as novel disease-modifying agents against AD and review the different impacts of PDE-5 inhibition on various pathogenic mechanisms leading to AD, including neuronal apoptosis, neurovascular dysfunction, neurotransmitter modulation, and impairment of neurogenesis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy*
  • Alzheimer Disease / enzymology*
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5 / metabolism*
  • Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5 / physiology
  • Disease Progression
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / enzymology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / pathology
  • Humans
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / enzymology
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors
  • Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5