Could a heart pill slow a hidden dementia?
NCT ID NCT04120766
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether nicorandil, a drug currently used for heart conditions, can help people with a type of dementia called hippocampal sclerosis of aging. This condition is often mistaken for Alzheimer's but has no approved treatments. The trial includes 64 older adults and will measure safety and changes in brain volume over 96 weeks.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Nicorandil (a drug used for heart conditions, repurposed here)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a treatment for a common but often overlooked cause of dementia that currently has no therapies.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial with only 64 participants. The drug may not slow the disease or could cause side effects. Results may not apply to all patients.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky, 40504, United States
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