Posted on 02/13/2023 10:24:05 AM PST by ConservativeMind
Two cheap and common drugs could be re-purposed as the first specific treatment for people who experience a type of stroke linked to nearly half of all dementias.
A clinical trial has shown that isosorbide mononitrate and cilostazol, which are already used to treat other heart and circulatory diseases, can safely and effectively improve the debilitating outcomes people experience after lacunar stroke, particularly when they're used in combination.
Lacunar strokes affect at least 25,000 people in the UK each year. They're thought to be caused by cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD), where small blood vessels deep within the brain become damaged and stop working properly. There are currently no effective treatments.
The two drugs trialed could be available as a treatment for lacunar strokes within five years.
The trial involved people who had experienced a lacunar stroke. As well as their standard stroke prevention treatment, participants took either isosorbide mononitrate or cilostazol individually, both drugs together, or neither, for one year.
The researchers investigated cilostazol and isosorbide mononitrate as they are thought to improve the function of the inner lining of blood vessels (the endothelium). Problems with the endothelium are thought to play a role in cSVD.
After one year, participants that took both drugs were nearly 20 percent less likely to have problems with their thinking and memory compared to the group that did not take either drug. They were also more independent and reported a better quality of life.
Those who took isosorbide mononitrate were less likely to have had further strokes at one year than those who did not take the drug.
Individually isosorbide mononitrate also improved thinking and memory skills, and quality of life, while cilostazol improved independence and mood. But these effects were strengthened when the two drugs were taken together.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Isosorbide mononitrate and cilostazol appear to cost $29 and $28, respectively, with the GoodRX standard discount everyone can use.
Bfl
So who’s the FDA gonna DOX on this one...
Fetterman obviously didn’t take these.
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