Why I Take Cialis for Longevity | The Science Behind Tadalafil

I’ve been taking low-dose tadalafil—better known as Cialis—daily for over a year. When I first wrote about this last year, I had no idea I’d eventually find myself discussing it on NPR and CNN. But there’s a reason this medication is suddenly getting attention far beyond erectile dysfunction. In this video, I’m breaking down the science. We’ll look at a 2024 meta-analysis of more than 1.25 million people in which PDE5 inhibitor use was associated with a 22% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and 30% lower all-cause mortality. We’ll also look at another observational study of more than 500,000 men that found tadalafil use was associated with lower rates of mortality, heart attack, stroke—and even dementia. But these are*associations, not proof of causation.Tadalafil has NOT been proven to prevent cardiovascular disease or extend lifespan in healthy people. So why am I interested? A big part of the answer is the biology: Nitric oxide → cGMP → vasodilation → blood flow Tadalafil inhibits PDE5, the enzyme that breaks down cGMP, essentially allowing the body's nitric-oxide signaling to last longer. And blood flow matters everywhere—not just for erections. It matters to the heart, brain, skeletal muscle, kidneys and genital tissues. I also break down what we actually know about tadalafil and PDE5 inhibition in women, including studies looking at coronary microvascular function, skeletal-muscle glucose uptake, cardiovascular and inflammatory biomarkers, and female sexual function. Finally, I explain why I personally decided to use low-dose daily tadalafil—and why my decision should NOT be interpreted as a recommendation for everyone else. The cardiovascular signals are compelling. The mechanism is biologically plausible. But compelling is not the same thing as proven. Tadalafil is a prescription medication with potential side effects, contraindications and drug interactions. Work with a licensed prescriber who can evaluate whether it is appropriate for your individual health history. #Tadalafil #Cialis #Longevity #HeartHealth #CardiovascularHealth #WomensHealth #HealthyAging #PDE5 #Biohacking