Exploring the Link between Chronic Kidney Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study Using the Korean National Health Screening Cohort

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are common chronic diseases in the elderly population. Although a relationship between CKD and the occurrence of AD has been proposed, previous research results have been disputed, and further investigation is necessary to confirm this relationship. In this longitudinal follow-up study, we examined data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort, consisting of 15,756 individuals with CKD and 63,024 matched controls aged ≥40 years who received health check-ups between 2002 and 2019. Overlap-weighted Cox proportional hazard regression models were exploited to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for the association between CKD and AD. During the monitoring period, individuals with CKD had a greater incidence of AD than those without CKD (15.80 versus 12.40 per 1000 person years). After accounting for various factors, CKD was significantly associated with a 1.14-fold increased likelihood of developing AD, with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 1.08 to 1.20. In subgroup analysis, this relationship persisted irrespective of age (≥70 or <70), sex, income, smoking status, alcohol consumption, place of residence, or fasting blood glucose level. Additionally, the association between CKD and AD was still evident among patients who were overweight or obese, those with normal blood pressure or cholesterol levels, and those without any other health conditions or with a CCI score of ≥2. These results suggest that CKD could increase the probability of developing AD in the Korean adult population irrespective of demographic or lifestyle conditions. This may make it challenging to predict AD in patients with CKD, emphasizing the importance of frequent AD screening and management.

Mid- and Late-Life Chronic Kidney Disease Is Associated with Parkinson’s Disease, Not with an Increased Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

“…Several cohort studies have shown that patients with CKD have a higher risk of subsequently developing Parkinson’s disease than control groups [ 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Conversely, a recent study advocated that no significant correlation was observed between these two conditions [ 36 ]. However, this study also described an increased likelihood of developing Parkinson’s in patients with specific lifestyles and comorbidities, such as rural residents, normal weight, and hyperglycemia.…”

Associations between Chronic Kidney Disease and Migraine Incidence: Findings from a Korean Longitudinal Big Data Study

“…CKD was defined as either receiving a diagnosis of CKD (ICD-10 code N18) or being diagnosed with unspecified renal failure on at least two separate occasions, with the inclusion of individuals undergoing routine dialysis treatment, including hemodialysis and/or peritoneal dialysis, if their records contained relevant therapeutic codes (O7010, O7020, and O7070) [4].…”

“…The CCI was employed as a continuous variable, encompassing a score ranging from 0, indicating the absence of comorbidities, to 29, representing the existence of diverse comorbidities [25,26]. The selection of covariates for adjustment was based on a review of the literature indicating potential confounders in the association between CKD and migraine incidence [2][3][4][5][17][18][19], ensuring a robust statistical analysis.…”

“…Chronic kidney disease (CKD), characterized by progressively declining kidney function and vascular complications, can ultimately lead to chronic renal failure that requires dialysis or transplantation [1]. CKD often gives rise to various neurological issues, including cerebrovascular disorders such as stroke, cognitive impairment, white matter diseases, and headaches [2][3][4][5]. These neurological complications are part of the heightened risk of cardiovascular events correlated with CKD, contributing to a significant 41.5% increase in global CKD mortality rates across all age groups [6,7].…”