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

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.