Similarly, our results demonstrated that the levels of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 and/or mRNA, along with a decreased level of the anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐10 in the hippocampus of TBI rats, but these changes of inflammatory cytokines levels were significantly inhibited by nicorandil administration. Taken together, these results suggest that nicorandil exhibits the neuroprotective effects against cognitive impairment following TBI might be related to its antioxidative and anti‐neuroinflammation activities. Here, TNF is linked to Cognitive impairment.