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Clemastine ameliorates cognitive deficits in an experimental rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion
Xuemei Zong, Zhihai Huang, Fanfei Kong, Yu Feng, Yulan Zhang, Peibin Zou, Hung Wen Lin, David C. Hess et al.. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism, 2025-11-03
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) profoundly affects patient well-being and has been proposed as a risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia. However, due to the limited understanding of the pathophysiology of CCH, there are currently no effective preventive or therapeutic approaches for CCH-associated cognitive impairment. Therefore, identifying new targets for CCH is essential to bridge this knowledge gap. In this study, we sought to determine whether enhanced myelination could prevent cognitive impairment associated with CCH. Experimental CCH was induced via bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) in rats, and clemastine, a well-established pro-myelinating agent, was administered to boost myelin renewal. A series of behavioral tests was performed to assess learning and memory. We found that animals exhibited profound cognitive deficits 3 months after BCCAO, accompanied by significant myelin loss, structural disruption at the nodes of Ranvier, and synaptic dysfunction in various brain regions, without notable neuronal loss and oligodendrocyte apoptosis. Importantly, pharmacological enhancement of myelination preserved dendritic spine density and prevented synaptic loss, cognitive deficits, and neurovascular dysfunction following BCCAO. These findings suggest that clemastine may represent a promising therapeutic option for CCH-associated cognitive impairment.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Zong, X., Huang, Z., Kong, F., Feng, Y., Zhang, Y., Zou, P., et al. (2025). Clemastine ameliorates cognitive deficits in an experimental rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism. https://doi.org/10.1177/0271678x251382874
Vancouver
Zong X, Huang Z, Kong F, Feng Y, Zhang Y, Zou P, et al. Clemastine ameliorates cognitive deficits in an experimental rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism. 2025. doi:10.1177/0271678x251382874. PMID: 41185380.
BibTeX
@article{zong2025-41185380,
author = {Zong, Xuemei and Huang, Zhihai and Kong, Fanfei and Feng, Yu and Zhang, Yulan and Zou, Peibin and Lin, Hung Wen and Hess, David C. and others},
title = {{Clemastine ameliorates cognitive deficits in an experimental rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion}},
journal = {Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow \& Metabolism},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1177/0271678x251382874},
pmid = {41185380},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/0271678x251382874}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- In this study, we sought to determine whether enhanced myelination could prevent cognitive impairment associated with CCH.
- We found that animals exhibited profound cognitive deficits 3 months after BCCAO, accompanied by significant myelin loss, structural disruption at the nodes of Ranvier, and synaptic dysfunction in various brain regions, without notable neuronal loss and oligodendrocyte apoptosis.
- These findings suggest that clemastine may represent a promising therapeutic option for CCH-associated cognitive impairment.
Why it matters
In a rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, the drug clemastine prevented myelin loss, synaptic loss and cognitive deficits. These are animal results only, and the authors describe clemastine as a promising option that still needs testing in humans.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 35/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism: journal h-index 285 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Laboratory or animal study (title names “rat”) — scores zero |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Quanguang Zhang: h-index 44 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston: institution h-index 756 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41185380) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 35 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1177/0271678x251382874
- PubMed: 41185380
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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