Sudden decline in kidney function is relatively common in older adults and is tied to increased morbidity and mortality. A new study finds that acute kidney injury (AKI) may also be linked to a higher risk of depression.
“Our findings suggest that AKI is not just an isolated event affecting kidney function but may have broader implications, particularly for brain health,” said first author Hong Xu, PhD, of the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, in a statement.
Among the more than 300,000 study participants aged 65 years and older, about one in four had at least one AKI episode during an average 12-year follow-up period, and 16% were diagnosed with dementia. Not only did those with AKI have a 49% higher risk of developing any form of dementia, but the risk increase was 88% for Lewy body dementia or dementia caused by Parkinson’s disease, 47% for vascular dementia and 31% for Alzheimer’s disease. In patients with severe kidney damage who required hospitalization or inpatient care, the risk was even higher, the authors reported.
“Identifying acute kidney injury as a risk factor for dementia can lead to earlier intervention, preventive treatment and better patient care,” said Juan Jesus Carrero, PhD, also of the Karolinska Institute.
The study was published in the journal Neurology.
