Kidney dysfunction links to higher cognitive impairment risk

Chinese older adults aged 65 and older with kidney dysfunction face an increased risk of developing cognitive impairment, according to an analysis of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Researchers assessed cognitive status using the Mini-Mental State Examination and evaluated kidney function through estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR).

In a cross-sectional sample of 3,364 individuals, lower eGFR and higher ACR both correlated with greater odds of prevalent impairment. Prospectively, among 1,195 participants who were cognitively normal at baseline, 143 developed cognitive impairment over a three-year follow-up. Those with impaired kidney function had higher odds of incident impairment than those with normal function (OR = 1.744). Similarly, higher baseline ACR categories carried elevated risks, reaching an odds ratio of 2.650 for category A3 compared to category A1.