Promising Drugs Revealed to Enhance Cognitive Function, Memory, Mobility, and Potentially Treat Dementia After Stroke
The aftermath of strokes can be incredibly challenging, as individuals may encounter difficulties with cognition, memory, and movement, and potentially develop dementia. Unfortunately, there are currently no specific effective treatments available for this condition.
However, a groundbreaking trial has showcased a potential breakthrough by repurposing two widely available and affordable drugs. Isosorbide mononitrate and cilostazol, commonly used to address heart and circulatory diseases, have demonstrated a safe and significant improvement in the debilitating outcomes experienced by individuals after lacunar stroke.
In fact, when used in combination, these two drugs exhibited even greater effectiveness. Experts are optimistic that if these findings are validated in further trials, isosorbide mononitrate and cilostazol could become viable treatment option for lacunar strokes within the next five years.
Lacunar strokes affect a significant number of individuals in the UK, with at least 35,000 cases reported annually. These strokes are associated with cerebral small vessel disease, where the tiny blood vessels deep within the brain become damaged and fail to function properly. Importantly, small vessel disease is also a frequent cause of cognitive impairment and dementia.
Study Reveals Promising Treatment Option for Stroke-Related Dementia
A clinical trial, led by the Universities of Edinburgh and Nottingham in collaboration with the UK Dementia Research Institute, enrolled 363 individuals who had experienced a lacunar stroke.
In addition to their standard stroke prevention treatment, participants were randomly assigned to receive one of the following interventions: isosorbide mononitrate, cilostazol, a combination of both drugs, or neither.
Supported by funding from the British Heart Foundation, the trial aimed to investigate the potential benefits of cilostazol and isosorbide mononitrate in improving the function of the inner lining of blood vessels, which researchers believe may play a role in small vessel disease.
Results indicated that participants who received both drugs together were found to be nearly 20 percent less likely to experience issues with their cognitive function and memory compared to those who did not take either drug. Furthermore, this group reported greater independence and a higher quality of life.
Moreover, individuals who received isosorbide mononitrate alone were less likely to experience subsequent strokes after one year compared to those who did not take the drug.
When administered individually, isosorbide mononitrate demonstrated improvements in cognitive function, memory skills, and quality of life, while cilostazol showed positive effects on independence and mood. Researchers noted that these effects were enhanced when the two drugs were taken in combination.
The research team now plans to conduct a larger four-year clinical trial to further investigate these drugs. They anticipate commencing this trial by the end of 2023. Additionally, they aim to explore the effectiveness of these drugs in treating other conditions associated with small vessel diseases, such as vascular cognitive impairment and dementia.
The findings of the study were published today in the journal JAMA Neurology.
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