Dementia and chronic kidney disease (CKD) tend to be more prevalent in older individuals, but is there a link between them? Declining estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which indicates kidney dysfunction, has already been linked to heart disease, infections and anemia. Learn more about what one study did to determine if there was a relationship between kidney disease and cognitive decline. 

What They Did

Using a database of 329,822 residents of Stockholm, Sweden, researchers looked for patients over 65 years of age with a new dementia diagnosis or who began treatments for dementia between 2006-2011. The median (average) follow-up was five years. Patients’ data were then analyzed to determine if there was a link between kidney dysfunction and cognitive decline. 

What They Found

Data analysis showed a link between eGFR and dementia, with dementia rates rising among patients with lower eGFR levels. Moreover, investigators found patients who underwent a steep decline in eGFR in a single year had a higher risk of dementia. 

What it Means

Like diabetes and hypertension, dementia and CKD share traditional vascular risk factors. Also, CKD can lead to conditions associated with ischemic brain lesions, which is seen in dementia.

While this study contradicts previous research, the researchers believe their data is strong, in part, because of the large population sample. Researchers believe more research should be done to verify their findings. In addition, they encourage physicians to perform kidney function tests during dementia screenings could be beneficial. 

*Kaltwasser, J. (2021a, May 19). Population-Based Study Finds Link Between CKD, Dementia. AJMC. https://www.ajmc.com/view/population-based-study-finds-link-between-ckd-dementia