Chronic Kidney Disease and Cognitive Impairment: The Kidney-Brain Axis

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment, increasingly recognized as a major social burden, is commonly found in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. SUMMARY: Vascular damage, uremic toxicity, oxidative stress, and peripheral/central inflammation induced by CKD might be involved in brain lesions and ultimately result in cognitive decline. Uncovering the pathophysiology of CKD-associated cognitive impairment is important for early diagnosis and prevention, which undoubtedly prompts innovative pharmacological treatments. KEY MESSAGES: Here, we sequentially review the current understanding and advances in the epidemiology, risk factors, and pathological mechanisms of cognitive impairment in CKD. Furthermore, we summarize the currently available therapeutic strategies for cognitive impairment in CKD.