Angiotensin (1-7) Treatment to Improve Cognitive Functioning in Heart Failure Patients

Paused · Phase 2

Conditions studied: Chronic Heart Failure, Cognitive Impairment

In brief

Heart failure (HF) is the major cardiovascular disease that continues to grow in prevalence, largely due to aging of the population. HF is described as the inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it and, specifically, failure of the heart to pump blood with normal efficiency. Cognitive impairment (CI) is common in HF patients, resulting in a person having trouble remembering, learning new things, concentrating, or making decisions that affect their everyday life. Patients with HF have been show repeatedly to have trouble remembering and learning new things when compared to the general population. Patients with demonstrated CI have a significantly increased risk of developing dementia (memory loss). It is believed that the reason HF patients have a higher risk of CI is possibly due to less blood reaching the brain and an overall inflammatory process occurring in the body including the brain. To date there are no known therapies that can help treat CI caused by HF. A substance, Angiotensin-(1-7) \[Ang-(1-7)\], is known to decrease inflammation in the brain. Early studies in humans have shown it to be safe. This substance is naturally produced in the body and works by activating areas in the brain involved in memory. Investigators believe that Ang-(1-7) may be able to help lower the risk of loss of cognitive function in patients with heart failure. In this study, we will try to determine whether Ang-(1-7) is a safe and effective treatment for cognitive impairment in HF patients.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT03159988

Run by

University of Arizona

People needed

6

Starts

2016-04-01

Expected to finish

2026-06-01

Last updated by the study team

2025-06-04

Who can join

Age: 55 and older, up to 75. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Diagnosed with chronic HF ≥ 90 days prior to enrollment
• Be clinically stable and on stable medications
• Stable NYHA Class II-III HF or symptoms during mild or moderate exercise but not at rest (i.e. shortness of breath)
• Fluent in English or formal education in English starting from at least the age of 5
• Able and willing to provide informed consent

You may not qualify if…

• Evidence of decompensated HF
• Symptoms or signs of active coronary ischemia
• Criteria for DSM-IV diagnosis or history of serious psychiatric disease, or diagnosed learning disabilities. May have psychological problem that has been well controlled on medication for a sustained period of more than 2 years.
• Any other neurological, psychiatric, or medical illness or injury expected to interfere with cognitive function or memory including but not limited to stroke (diagnosed with evidence of stroke), head injury, epilepsy, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, brain cancer, depression (current, but ok in past). Migraines OK. May have TIAs with no sign of impairment and no sequelae following the event
• Active substance abuse disorder i.e. alcohol, nicotine. Previous substance abuse of cocaine, Ecstasy, LSD, IV drugs
• History of seizure disorder as child or currently experiencing or on medications for seizures. Exception is febrile seizures as a child.
• Any condition which may prevent the subject from adhering to the study protocol, as determined by the Investigator i.e. reported learning disability, cataracts impairing vision, colorblindness.
• Movement disorders that prevent the subject from being still for the MRI
• The presence of any metallic implant or foreign body, including dental bridges excludes patients from MRI. Removable body piercings/implants okay. Patients with a metal implant or foreign body will still be enrolled; however these patients will not undergo MRI testing.
• Professional metalworker or welder
• Recurring panic attacks or claustrophobic
• Abnormally high weight or height to fit in scanner (Bore 70cm)

Where it is running

• University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center — Tucson, Arizona, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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