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Updated: May 22, 2025
07:30
Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
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Aging aggravates cognitive dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats by inducing cerebral microvascular
Plos One
|March 13, 2025
Summary
Aging worsens hypertension-induced cognitive decline in rats by damaging brain blood vessels and endothelial function. Combination therapy with nimodipine and butylphthalide shows promise for treating these age-related cognitive impairments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Hypertension and aging are risk factors for vascular cognitive impairment.
- Endothelial dysfunction plays a role in cerebral microvascular damage.
- The impact of aging on hypertension-induced cognitive dysfunction via endothelial pathways is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if aging exacerbates hypertension-induced cognitive dysfunction through cerebral microvascular endothelial dysfunction.
- To explore the underlying mechanisms, including blood-brain barrier integrity and neuroinflammation.
- To evaluate the therapeutic potential of nimodipine and butylphthalide combination therapy.
Main Methods:
- D-galactose injection in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) to induce aging.
- Behavioral tests to assess cognitive function and memory impairment.
- Pathological examination of brain microvessels and molecular analysis of endothelial markers, blood-brain barrier integrity, and inflammatory cytokines.
Main Results:
- Aged SHRs exhibited more severe cognitive dysfunction and memory deficits compared to controls.
- Significant pathological changes and functional damage were observed in the cerebral microvasculature of aged SHRs.
- Molecular analysis revealed endothelial damage, blood-brain barrier disruption, microglial activation, and increased pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Conclusions:
- Aging exacerbates hypertension-induced cognitive dysfunction in rats, potentially via cerebral microvascular endothelial dysfunction, blood-brain barrier damage, and neuroinflammation.
- Combination therapy with nimodipine and butylphthalide effectively improved cognitive dysfunction in aged SHRs.
- This study provides a theoretical basis for treating aging and hypertension-related cognitive disorders.
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