Kidney Impairment Decreases Blood Flow to the Brain

According to a recent population-based study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, impaired kidney function may lead to decreased blood flow to the brain. The study’s findings linked poor kidney function to stroke and dementia. The results, independent from known cardiovascular risk factors, provide a possible explanation for why stroke and dementia are more common in patients with chronic kidney disease compared to the general population. “ … Given that kidney disease and hypoperfusion of the brain are both possibly reversible, there might be an opportunity to explore how improving these conditions can ultimately reduce one’s risk of developing brain disease,” said the study’s lead researchers. The findings from the study also show that the kidney-brain link is not confined to patients with chronic kidney disease, but extends to persons from the general population without overt disease. To read more about this study, click here.