Unveil the hidden interplay between chronic kidney disease, heart health, and cognition issues that are pronounced more in men.
Latest study highlights how Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) influences cognitive decline by damaging the heart and brain.
Critically, the researchers discovered that these overlooked pathways differ remarkably based on the patient’s sex. (1✔ ✔Trusted Source
Chronic Kidney Disease and Cardiac Remodeling Potentiate Cognitive Impairment Progression: Disentangling the Sex-Specific Crosstalk of Kidney-Heart-Brain Axis
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Men with #chronic_kidney_disease face more #cardiac_dysfunction and #mental_disorders, indicating the interconnected pathway that requires tailored interventions based on sex. #CKD #nephrology #hearthealth #kidney_disease #neurology #mens_health
The revelations made by scientists and physicians from the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, in collaboration with the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study was published in the American Journal of Physiology – Heart and Circulatory Physiology.
Scientists analyzed the kidney–heart–brain axis in a cross-sectional study on rural community patients.
Men are Vulnerable to Higher Cognitive and Cardiac Risk
The findings reveal that men who suffer from CKD experience higher chances of heart failure and memory or cognition problems, suggesting the need for sex-based tailored therapies.
The research found that men with CKD experienced greater cognitive impairment and more pronounced reductions in cardiac function than women, suggesting a stronger heart–brain contribution to cognitive deterioration in men.
These findings shed light on why men with CKD often face more severe cognitive effects and point to potential sex-specific targets for early diagnosis and treatment.
“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.
Why Understanding Sex Differences Matters in CKD and Brain Health
CKD affects millions of Americans, yet its relationship with cognitive impairment remains underrecognized—particularly in rural and underserved populations.
By uncovering sex-dependent mechanisms of kidney–heart–brain interaction, the study opens new pathways for early screening and personalized interventions.
“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.”
Reference:
- Chronic Kidney Disease and Cardiac Remodeling Potentiate Cognitive Impairment Progression: Disentangling the Sex-Specific Crosstalk of Kidney-Heart-Brain Axis – (https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajpheart.00617.2025)
Source-Eurekalert