The eyes may hold a window to brain health: a trial tests a new marker and treatment

This study investigates whether changes in retinal blood vessels can serve as a marker for cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), a common condition in older adults that increases stroke and dementia risk. The trial includes people with SVD-related conditions like CADASIL, sporadic white matter disease, or lobar microbleeds, as well as healthy controls. Participants receive cilostazol, a drug with antiplatelet and vasodilatory effects, to see if it can slow disease progression. The study measures changes in white matter volume, cognition, and blood vessel reactivity in the brain and retina.