Could a common heart drug help slow language loss in dementia?
NCT ID NCT06066710
First seen Jul 17, 2026 · Last updated Jul 17, 2026
Summary
This early-phase trial tests whether propranolol, a drug typically used for high blood pressure, can improve language abilities and reduce anxiety in older adults with primary progressive aphasia (PPA). PPA is a type of dementia that gradually impairs speech and language, and there are currently no approved drug treatments for it. The study enrolls 30 people aged 50 and older with a PPA diagnosis, who will receive either propranolol or a placebo for 9 weeks, with brain scans taken before and after.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- propranolol, a beta-blocker drug used for heart conditions, given in escalating doses over 3 weeks then continued for 9 weeks
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new treatment option for language decline and anxiety in primary progressive aphasia.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small trial with only 30 participants, so results may not be conclusive. Propranolol is not approved for this condition and may cause side effects like fatigue or low blood pressure.
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
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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University of Missouri-Columbia
RECRUITINGColumbia, Missouri, 65212, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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