A study published in the American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology has found that chronic kidney disease (CKD) accelerates cognitive decline through damage involving both the heart and brain, with significant differences between men and women. The research was led by scientists at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, working in collaboration with the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health.
The study involved community-dwelling patients from a rural population, with equal representation of men and women. Researchers observed that men with CKD showed greater cognitive impairment and more significant reductions in cardiac function compared to women. This suggests that heart–brain pathways may play a stronger role in cognitive decline among men with CKD.
"These results demonstrate that the biological pathways linking the kidney, heart, and brain are distinct in men and women," said Sneha S. Pillai, Ph.D., research assistant professor of biomedical sciences at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and lead author of the study.
Chronic kidney disease affects millions across the United States, but its connection to cognitive problems is not widely recognized, especially among rural or underserved groups. By identifying sex-specific mechanisms within the kidney–heart–brain axis, researchers hope to encourage early screening and more personalized interventions for those at risk.
"Understanding how cardiovascular stress and neurodegenerative markers interact differently in men and women with CKD could fundamentally change how we approach treatment," said Komal Sodhi, M.D., associate professor of surgery at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and principal investigator of the study. "This work underscores the urgency of tailored strategies to prevent progression to more serious neurological disorders."
Ellen Thompson, M.D., professor of cardiology, and Zeid J. Khitan, M.D., professor of nephrology, also contributed to clinical aspects of this research. Funding support came from multiple sources including NIH grants focused on women's health research.
