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Cerebrovascular disease

New insights into cognitive decline in chronic kidney disease

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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is known to be associated with cognitive impairment, but the mechanisms that underlie this kidney–brain connection are unclear. A recent study provides evidence that CKD is an independent risk factor for cognitive decline due to cerebral small vessel disease.

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Fig. 1: Mechanisms of microvascular injury in chronic kidney disease.

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Acknowledgements

The authors’ work is supported by NIH R01 NS113337 (W.L.L.) and NIH R01 NS20989 (M.F.). Less than US$10,000 (100%) federal funds supported this project. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not represent the official views of the US National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Orange, CA, USA

    Wei Ling Lau

  2. Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Orange, CA, USA

    Mark Fisher

  3. Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Orange, CA, USA

    Mark Fisher

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  1. Wei Ling Lau
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  2. Mark Fisher
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Correspondence to Wei Ling Lau or Mark Fisher.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Lau, W.L., Fisher, M. New insights into cognitive decline in chronic kidney disease. Nat Rev Nephrol 19, 214–215 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-022-00656-y

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