Drugs to Prevent Stroke and Dementia Show Promise in Early Trial

A study published in EClinicalMedicine found cilostazol and isosorbide mononitrate, two drugs used to treat heart disease and angina, are tolerable for people who have suffered stroke or vascular dementia, reports ScienceDaily. The researchers enrolled 57 participants who had experienced a stroke caused by damaged small blood vessels, who took the two drugs individually or together for up to nine weeks, in addition to the usual stroke prevention treatments. The findings imply the drugs are safe for use in such individuals in the short term. Moreover, the treatments also seem to help improve blood vessel function in the arms and brain and may improve thinking skills. "The results of this trial show promise for treating a common cause of stroke and the commonest cause of vascular dementia, since currently there are no effective treatments," said Professor Joanna Wardlaw at the University of Edinburgh's Center for Clinical Brain Sciences.