Dementia is defined because the lack of cognitive functioning-;including considering, remembering, and reasoning-; and could be very prevalent in Japan. Currently, the treatment satisfaction for dementia is among the many lowest and no drug therapy is out there to cure the disease. With a rapidly aging global population, the event of dementia preventive and therapeutic drugs is critical.

Cognitive impairment has been linked to the consumption of excess table salt, a ubiquitous food seasoning. High salt (HS) intake may also result in hypertension. To stop opposed health outcomes, the World Health Organization recommends limiting salt intake to lower than 5 g per day. The involvement of angiotensin II (Ang II)-;a hormone that plays a key role in regulating blood pressure and fluid balance-; and its receptor “AT1”, in addition to that of the physiologically essential lipid molecule prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 and its receptor “EP1” in hypertension and neurotoxicity is well-recognized. Nevertheless, the involvement of those systems in HS-mediated hypertension and emotional/cognitive impairment stays elusive.

To this end, a recent study published within the British Journal of Pharmacology thoroughly evaluated the elements of HS-mediated hypertension and emotional/cognitive impairment. The study was performed by a team of collaborating researchers from Japan, and has shown how hypertension, mediated by the crosstalk between Ang II-AT1 and PGE2-EP1 causes emotional and cognitive dysfunction.

Writer Hisayoshi Kubota from Fujita Health University’s Graduate School of Health Science comments, “Excessive salt intake is taken into account a risk factor for hypertension, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. Nevertheless, studies specializing in the interaction between the peripheral and central nervous system haven’t sufficiently investigated this association.”

In response to the published data, the addition of excessive phosphates to the protein “tau” is primarily accountable for this emotional and cognitive consequences. The findings are particularly noteworthy because tau is a key protein of the Alzheimer’s disease.

The team first loaded laboratory mice with an HS solution (2% NaCl in drinking water) for 12 weeks and monitored their blood pressure. “The consequences of HS intake on emotional/cognitive function and tau phosphorylation were also examined in two key areas of the mouse brain-;the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus,” explains Prof. Mouri. Next, in addition they studied the involvement of the Ang II-AT1 and PGE2-EP1 systems within the HS-induced hypertension and neuronal/behavioral impairment.

The outcomes were remarkable and inspiring: The brains of the experimental mice had several biochemical alternations. On the molecular level, besides the addition of phosphates to tau, the researchers also observed a decrease within the phosphate groups linked to a key enzyme called “CaMKII”-;a protein involved in brain signaling. Furthermore, changes in the degrees of “PSD95”-;a protein that plays a significant role within the organization and performance of brain synapses (connection between brain cells)-;were also evident. Interestingly, the biochemical changes were reversed after the administration of the antihypertensive drug “losartan.” An analogous reversal was observed after knocking out the EP1 gene.

Overall, these findings suggest that angiotensin II-AT1 and prostaglandin E2-EP1 systems might be novel therapeutic targets for hypertension-induced dementia.

Prof. Mouri concludes by saying, “This study is of particular social and economic importance since the annual social cost of dementia treatment in Japan is surging like never before”. Subsequently, developing preventive and therapeutic drugs for dementia seems critical for Japan’s rapidly aging population.”

Source:

Journal reference:

Kubota, H., et al. (2023) High salt induces cognitive impairment via the interaction of the angiotensin II-AT1 and prostaglandin E2-EP1 systems. British Journal of Pharmacology. doi.org/10.1111/bph.16093.