Kidney function is associated with the rate of cognitive decline in the elderly
Citation Manager Formats
Make Comment
See Comments

This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
Abstract
Objective: We tested the hypothesis that impaired kidney function in the elderly is associated with a more rapid rate of cognitive decline.
Methods: Baseline serum was used to calculate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula, for 886 elderly without dementia participating in the Rush Memory and Aging Project, a prospective, observational cohort study. Kidney function was also dichotomized into impairment or no impairment based on eGFR < or ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Structured cognitive testing was performed at baseline and at annual evaluations, using a battery of 19 cognitive tests summarized into global cognition and 5 cognitive domains.
Results: In mixed-effects models adjusted for age, sex, and education, a lower eGFR at baseline was associated with a more rapid rate of cognitive decline (estimate 0.0008, SE <0.001, p = 0.017). The increased rate of cognitive decline associated with a 15-mL/min/1.73 m2 lower eGFR at baseline (approximately 1 SD) was similar to the effect of being 3 years older at baseline. Impaired kidney function at baseline was associated with a more rapid rate of cognitive decline (estimate −0.028, SE <0.009, p = 0.003). The increased rate of cognitive decline associated with impaired kidney function at baseline was approximately 75% the effect of ApoE4 allele on the rate of cognitive decline. Baseline kidney function was associated with declines in semantic memory, episodic memory, and working memory but not visuospatial abilities or perceptual speed.
Conclusion: Impaired kidney function is associated with a more rapid rate of cognitive decline in old age.
Glossary
- AD=
- Alzheimer disease;
- BMI=
- body mass index;
- CRN=
- creatinine;
- eGFR=
- estimated glomerular filtration rate.
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
For assistance, please contact:
AAN Members (800) 879-1960 or (612) 928-6000 (International)
Non-AAN Member subscribers (800) 638-3030 or (301) 223-2300 option 3, select 1 (international)
Sign Up
Information on how to subscribe to Neurology and Neurology: Clinical Practice can be found here
Purchase
Individual access to articles is available through the Add to Cart option on the article page. Access for 1 day (from the computer you are currently using) is US$ 39.00. Pay-per-view content is for the use of the payee only, and content may not be further distributed by print or electronic means. The payee may view, download, and/or print the article for his/her personal, scholarly, research, and educational use. Distributing copies (electronic or otherwise) of the article is not allowed.
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
- Reply from the authors
- Aron S. Buchman, MD, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, ILAron_S_Buchman@rush.edu
- Raj J. Shah, MD, Patricia A. Boyle, PhD, David A. Bennett, MD
Submitted January 29, 2010 - Kidney function is associated with the rate of cognitive decline in the elderly
- Daniel L. Menkes, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, MC 1840 Farmington, CT 06032-1840menkes@uchc.edu
Submitted January 29, 2010
REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
You May Also be Interested in
Dr. Nicole Sur and Dr. Mausaminben Hathidara
► Watch
Related Articles
Topics Discussed
Alert Me
Recommended articles
-
Article
Proportion of cognitive loss attributable to terminal declineRobert S. Wilson, Lei Yu, Sue E. Leurgans et al.Neurology, December 02, 2019 -
Article
Education and cognitive reserve in old ageRobert S. Wilson, Lei Yu, Melissa Lamar et al.Neurology, February 06, 2019 -
Articles
Neurodegenerative basis of age-related cognitive declineR.S. Wilson, S.E. Leurgans, P.A. Boyle et al.Neurology, September 15, 2010 -
Article
Cognitive decline after elective and nonelective hospitalizations in older adultsBryan D. James, Robert S. Wilson, Ana W. Capuano et al.Neurology, January 11, 2019