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During the congress, E-Posters will be accessible to all participants on the congress website 24/7, as well as in the E-poster stations in the congress center.
Preparing your E-Poster
Please review the E-Poster format requirements carefully when preparing your E-Poster. Should your E-Poster not meet the mentioned requirements, it may not be displayed as described above.
E-Poster Submission Deadline
Please prepare and upload your E-Poster no later than March 14, 2026 11.59PM CET. After this date, you will no longer be able to prepare and upload your E-poster and it will not be displayed and accessible on the congress website.
Please follow the instructions below to input your abstract title.
Abstract titles should be brief and reflect the content of the abstract.
Dementia is a leading global health challenge, currently affecting >55 million people worldwide, with 10 million new cases annually and projections to triple by 2050. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects ~697.5 million people (9.1% global prevalence) and is rising steadily. While historically considered separate conditions, emerging evidence highlights a kidney–brain axis, where renal dysfunction accelerates cognitive decline through shared vascular and metabolic pathways. This study aims to examine the epidemiological link, mechanistic evidence, and clinical implications of CKD as a risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia.
This review synthesizes evidence on the kidney–brain axis by integrating data from three major sources:
1. Global Burden Estimates: We used Global Burden of Disease (GBD) reports to quantify the prevalence and trends of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and dementia worldwide.
2. WHO Publications: Official World Health Organization (WHO) fact sheets and policy documents were reviewed to contextualize the public health impact of cognitive decline and CKD.
3. PubMed Literature Search: A systematic search of PubMed/PMC databases was conducted using the terms “chronic kidney disease,” “cognitive decline,” “dementia,” “kidney–brain axis,” and “albuminuria.” We included observational studies, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and mechanistic studies published in English between 2000 and 2024.
Studies were selected if they
(i) assessed the association between CKD markers (eGFR, albuminuria) and cognitive outcomes,
(ii) explored biological mechanisms linking renal dysfunction and brain health.
Data were extracted and synthesized narratively to highlight epidemiological trends, mechanistic pathways, and clinical implications.
Epidemiological studies consistently demonstrate that reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and albuminuria are independently associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, even in early CKD. A meta-analysis of >54,000 participants showed that CKD is linked to a 35% higher risk of dementia, with albuminuria conferring risk independent of GFR. Biological mechanisms include accumulation of uremic toxins, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and blood–brain barrier disruption. Shared risk factors such as diabetes and hypertension further amplify vulnerability. Clinical studies suggest that patients with advanced CKD or end-stage kidney disease experience faster cognitive decline, and dialysis patients demonstrate significantly higher prevalence of cognitive impairment compared with age-matched controls. Importantly, emerging evidence indicates that interventions targeting vascular risk factors, controlling albuminuria, and optimizing renal function may slow cognitive decline.
This review underscores the kidney–brain axis as a critical but underrecognized determinant of cognitive health. By reframing cognitive decline as partly a renal disorder, new opportunities emerge for prevention and management, including early CKD screening, aggressive control of shared vascular risks, and mechanism-based therapeutic strategies. Integrating nephrology and neurology approaches may reduce the global burden of dementia, particularly in resource-limited settings where CKD and dementia are rising most rapidly.
