← Return to Chronic small vessel ischemic disease

Discussion
Comment receiving replies
Profile picture for knoxville25 @knoxville25

I had sudden onset of dysarthria in December 2024. Initially, it was mild but has gotten worse and I now have severe weakness of my right arm and hand.
My diagnosis is small vessel disease of the brain. I am learning that brain cells can regenerate and I want to find someone who can assess and treat. I’m a young 72 and I want to turn this around. Was reading and watching lectures by Lewis Clarke, MD, PhD, in Webster, TX. He’s on You Tube and he discusses cell regeneration. Previously, I was told I had the best insurance. This year, suddenly no one will take my insurance. I’m assuming small vessel disease of the brain is the cause. Age is just a number; my grandmother, at 82, was the most vibrant and intelligent ladies I ever knew. Age should not be a factor in receiving the best medical treatment and Health Insurance Companies should not prevent us from receiving treatment. I plan on getting well despite the obstacles placed in my/our way. Prayers! GOD is over every CEO🙏🏽✝️

Jump to this post


Replies to "I had sudden onset of dysarthria in December 2024. Initially, it was mild but has gotten..."

@knoxville25 Wondering how you are doing? I’m 71 with WMH showing up on a brain MRI, so seriously concerned about managing this.

Thought you might be interested in what AI came up with, some very current info:

Repurposed Medications (The Frontier of CSVD Care)

The most significant pharmacological breakthrough for chronic small vessel disease comes from the LACI-2 trial (Lacunar Intervention Trial-2), with long-term data published and reviewed through 2024–2025 (Blair et al., 2024).
Because CSVD is driven by endothelial dysfunction, blood-brain barrier leakage, and impaired nitric oxide signaling, researchers successfully tested two repurposed medications (Bath, 2025; Jin, 2026):
Isosorbide Mononitrate (ISMN): A nitric oxide donor that improves blood vessel dilation and reduces systemic vascular resistance (Bath, 2025; Yılmaz, 2022).
Cilostazol: A phosphodiesterase-3 (PDE3) inhibitor used traditionally for peripheral artery disease that acts as a vasodilator and prevents harmful platelet clumping (Bath, 2025).

The Evidence
The LACI-2 trial revealed that patients taking Isosorbide Mononitrate and Cilostazol in combination experienced a dramatic reduction in vascular, cognitive, and functional dependency events (Bath, 2025). Remarkably, improvements in executive cognition, mood stabilization, and overall daily functioning were observed within just 6 months of initiating therapy (Bath, 2025). While larger Phase III trials are ongoing to make this standard global practice, it is currently the strongest proof-of-concept for direct medical intervention (Jin, 2026).

The AI response also mentioned controlling metabolic health and high blood pressure.