Blood Pressure Drug Shows Potential in Treating Rare Childhood Brain Disease

Aug 16, 2026

78 min

Aug 16, 2026 19:30

Existing blood pressure drug may slow rare childhood brain disease: Study

## Promising Findings from Amsterdam UMC Study

A study conducted by Amsterdam University Medical Centers suggests that guanabenz, a medication traditionally used for high blood pressure, may slow the progression of vanishing white matter (VWM) disease in children. This rare neurodegenerative disorder affects children primarily between ages 1 and 6, leading to a decline in motor and intellectual abilities and often resulting in early death.

## Study Details and Results

The research, published in The Lancet Neurology, followed children with VWM who were treated with guanabenz over three years. Their progress was compared to 66 children with similar disease severity who did not receive the drug. Findings indicated that those on guanabenz experienced delayed wheelchair dependency and improved survival rates. Notably, none of the treated children died during the study, whereas five children in the comparison group did.

## Side Effects and Future Research

Initial treatment with guanabenz led to side effects such as hallucinations and drowsiness, but these were mostly temporary. The study's authors emphasized that while guanabenz is not a cure, it shows potential in managing the disease. They also noted the absence of a simultaneous untreated control group in the study. Further research is planned to explore the effects of higher doses and longer treatment durations.

## VWM Disease Overview

VWM is extremely rare, affecting approximately one in 100,000 children globally. In the Netherlands, the prevalence is about 1.3 per million. The study's findings offer hope for managing this challenging condition, although more research is needed to fully understand the long-term benefits of guanabenz treatment.

Read the full story at the source

What you need to know to get Emirates ID?

Leave your details and get a guide as a gift to avoid mistakes

Article contents

LinkedIn X Facebook WhatsApp Telegram