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Chronic Kidney Disease Induces Cognitive Impairment in the Early Stage

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Abstract

Objective

Previous research indicates a link between cognitive impairment and chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the underlying factors are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the progression of CKD-induced cognitive impairment and the involvement of cognition-related proteins by developing early- and late-stage CKD models in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Methods

The Morris water maze test and the step-down passive avoidance task were performed to evaluate the cognitive abilities of the rats at 24 weeks after surgery. Histopathologic examinations were conducted to examine renal and hippocampal damage. Real-time PCR, Western blotting analysis, and immunohistochemical staining were carried out to determine the hippocampal expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), and synaptophysin (SYP).

Results

Compared with the control rats, the rats with early-stage CKD exhibited mild renal damage, while those with late-stage CKD showed significantly increased serum creatinine levels as well as apparent renal and brain damage. The rats with early-stage CKD also demonstrated significantly impaired learning abilities and memory compared with the control rats, with further deterioration observed in the rats with late-stage CKD. Additionally, we observed a significant downregulation of cognition-related proteins in the hippocampus of rats with early-stage CKD, which was further exacerbated with declining renal function as well as worsening brain and renal damage in rats with late-stage CKD.

Conclusion

These results suggest the importance of early screening to identify CKD-induced cognitive dysfunction promptly. In addition, the downregulation of cognition-related proteins may play a role in the progression of cognitive dysfunction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nephrology, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, China

    Yu Wang, Kai Chen, Zi-xuan Qiao & Xiao-rong Bao

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  1. Yu Wang
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  2. Kai Chen
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  3. Zi-xuan Qiao
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  4. Xiao-rong Bao
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Correspondence to Xiao-rong Bao.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

This study was funded by the Youth Fund of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission (No. 20164Y0266).

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Wang, Y., Chen, K., Qiao, Zx. et al. Chronic Kidney Disease Induces Cognitive Impairment in the Early Stage. CURR MED SCI 43, 988–997 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-023-2783-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-023-2783-9

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