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Updated: Jun 29, 2025

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
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The protective effects of Irbesartan in cognitive impairment in hypertension

Shengyun Hao1, Qian He1, Yuan Yuan1

  • 1Department of General Medical, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550001, China.

Aging
|March 25, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Irbesartan effectively treats hypertension-induced cognitive impairment in rats by improving memory and regulating brain signaling pathways. This offers potential for new treatments for vascular cognitive impairment (VCI).

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Cardiovascular Research

Background:

  • Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a leading cause of dementia, often induced by hypertension.
  • Current treatments for hypertension-induced cognitive impairment are limited.
  • Irbesartan, an angiotensin receptor antagonist, shows antihypertensive potential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the protective effects of Irbesartan against hypertension-induced cognitive impairment.
  • To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of Irbesartan's action in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Main Methods:

  • Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats were treated with Irbesartan or saline for 14 days.
  • Cognitive function was assessed using object recognition and Morris water maze tests.
  • Biochemical markers including oxidative stress, kinase activity, and signaling pathway components were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Irbesartan significantly reduced systolic blood pressure in SHR rats.
  • Cognitive deficits in SHR rats were reversed by Irbesartan treatment.
  • Irbesartan normalized oxidative stress markers (SOD, MDA), modulated CDK5/p35/p25 and p-Tau/Tau levels, and restored BDNF.
  • Irbesartan rescued repressed cAMP/CREB signaling and PDE4B upregulation in the hippocampus of SHR rats.

Conclusions:

  • Irbesartan demonstrates significant neuroprotective effects against hypertension-induced cognitive impairment in a rat model.
  • The mechanism involves regulating oxidative stress, protein kinases, and the cAMP/CREB signaling pathway.
  • Irbesartan represents a promising therapeutic candidate for managing VCI associated with hypertension.

Keywords:
IrbesartancAMP/CREBcognitive impairmenthypertensionvascular cognitive impairment (VCI)

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