Acute kidney injury is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia, according to a new study published in the journal Neurology by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and others.

Acute kidney injury (AKI), a sudden deterioration in kidney function, is relatively common in older people and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have suggested a potential link between AKI and brain injury.

The current study examined the association between AKI and different types of dementia. The researchers analysed data from more than 300,000 individuals over 65 years of age from the Stockholm CREAtinine Measurement (SCREAM) project in Sweden. About one out of four participants experienced at least one AKI episode during an average follow-up of 12 years, and 16 per cent were diagnosed with dementia.

Those who suffered acute kidney injury had a 49 per cent higher risk of developing any form of dementia. When each type of dementia was analysed separately, the risk increase was 88 per cent for Lewy body dementia or dementia caused by Parkinson’s disease, 47 per cent for vascular dementia and 31 per cent for Alzheimer’s disease. The risk increase was higher in people with severe kidney damage requiring hospitalisation or inpatient care.

“Our findings suggest that AKI is not just an isolated event affecting kidney function but may have broader implications, particularly for brain health,” says Hong Xu, assistant professor at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and first author of the paper.

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“Identifying acute kidney injury as a risk factor for dementia can lead to earlier intervention, preventive treatment and better patient care,” adds Juan Jesus Carrero, professor at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Karolinska Institutet and last author of the paper.

The next phase of the research aims to explore the biological mechanisms linking AKI to dementia. The researchers will also evaluate whether different medicines, lifestyle changes and monitoring procedures after acute kidney injury can reduce the risk of developing dementia.

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