Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 37 million American adults. Adult-onset CKD is typically attributed to acquired comorbidities such as aging, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Conversely, congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract are the most common cause of CKD in children. Both adult and pediatric patients with CKD are at risk for neurocognitive dysfunction, particularly in the domain of executive function. The exact mechanism for neurocognitive dysfunction in CKD is not known; however, it is conceivable that the multisystemic effects of CKD—including hypertension, acidosis, anemia, proteinuria, and uremic milieu—exert a detrimental effect on the brain. Quantitative neuroimaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), provide a non-invasive way to understand the neurobiological underpinnings of cognitive dysfunction in CKD. Adult patients with CKD show differences in brain structure; however, much less is known about the impact of CKD on neurodevelopment in pediatric patients. Herein, this review will summarize current evidence of the impact of CKD on brain structure and function and will identify the critical areas for future research that are needed to better understand the modifiable risk factors for abnormal brain structure and function across both pediatric and adult CKD populations.

Highlights

  • Neurocognitive deficits have been well-described in both the adult and pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) populations [1, 2]

  • Even subtle neurocognitive deficits have broad impacts on quality of life, as they contribute to poorer high school graduation rates and long-term underemployment in the adult CKD population [13]

  • The Systolic blood PRessure INterventional Trial (SPRINT) study found that CKD patients who were on standard blood pressure treatments had increased risks of mortality and major cardiovascular events, demonstrated mild cognitive impairment, and showed small vessel ischemic disease by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Read more

Summary

Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on Brain Structure and Function

Reviewed by: Roberto Chimenz, University of Messina, Italy (EE) Marius Miglinas, Vilnius University, Lithuania. Congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract are the most common cause of CKD in children Both adult and pediatric patients with CKD are at risk for neurocognitive dysfunction, in the domain of executive function. The exact mechanism for neurocognitive dysfunction in CKD is not known; it is conceivable that the multisystemic effects of CKD—including hypertension, acidosis, anemia, proteinuria, and uremic milieu—exert a detrimental effect on the brain. Quantitative neuroimaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), provide a non-invasive way to understand the neurobiological underpinnings of cognitive dysfunction in CKD.

INTRODUCTION
Neuroimaging in Adult CKD
Neuroimaging in Pediatric CKD
Findings
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.