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Candesartan, angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker is able to relieve age-related cognitive impairment

Emil Trofimiuk1, Przemysław Wielgat1, Jan J Braszko1

  • 1Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland.

Pharmacological Reports : PR
|January 15, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Candesartan, an antihypertensive drug, may improve age-related memory decline in rats by enhancing recognition memory. However, it can also worsen memory recall in some instances, suggesting complex effects on cognitive function.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Candesartan is a widely used antihypertensive medication from the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) class.
  • Its efficacy in managing hypertension is well-established.
  • This study investigated candesartan's potential to mitigate age-related memory impairments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effects of candesartan on age-associated memory decline in a rat model.
  • To assess candesartan's impact on long-term memory, recognition memory, locomotor activity, and anxiety.

Main Methods:

  • Young and aged rats received candesartan (0.1 mg/kg) daily for 21 days.
  • Behavioral tests included Passive Avoidance (PA) for long-term memory and Object Recognition (OR) for recognition memory.
  • Locomotor activity (Open Field - OF) and anxiety (Elevated Plus Maze - EPM) were also assessed.

Main Results:

  • Aged rats exhibited impaired passive avoidance memory retrieval, indicating increased forgetting.
  • Candesartan treatment significantly reversed this forgetting in aged rats.
  • Recognition memory in aged rats was significantly enhanced by candesartan, surpassing even young rats' performance.

Conclusions:

  • Candesartan demonstrates potential in reversing certain types of age-induced memory deficits in rats.
  • The drug's effects on memory are complex, with potential for both improvement and deterioration depending on the cognitive domain.
  • Sartans may represent a therapeutic option for hypertensive patients with or at risk of cognitive impairment.
Abstract

Keywords:
AgingCandesartanLearningMemoryObject recognition testPassive avoidance

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