Subclinical Renal Dysfunction and Cognitive Impairment and Independent Associations After Adjustment for Blood Pressure and Metabolic Covariates
Main Article Content
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2567-2204
T. Bhuvaneswari
P. RajaBabu
Doni R Praveen Kumar
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2567-2204
Abstract
Background: Hypertension and cardiometabolic dysregulation are established contributors to cognitive decline; however, the independent roles of renal function, systemic inflammation, and lipid metabolism in cognitive performance remain incompletely characterised, particularly across age groups.
Objectives: To determine whether baseline CRP, eGFR, HbA1c, LDL/HDL ratio, and triglycerides are independently associated with cognitive performance after adjustment for blood pressure, age, sex, education, and BMI.
Methods: Cross-sectional baseline data from 100 participants — 50 young adults (18–35 years) and 50 older adults (60–75 years) — were analysed. Multivariable linear regression models were fitted for seven cognitive outcomes spanning global cognition, processing speed, executive function, working memory, and episodic memory.
Results: After full covariate adjustment, eGFR was the sole biomarker independently associated with cognitive performance across five domains (β range: 0.199–2.461; all p < 0.05). CRP, HbA1c, LDL/HDL ratio, and triglycerides were attenuated to non-significance in adjusted models.
Conclusion: Renal function independently predicts cognitive performance beyond blood pressure burden, implicating the kidney-brain axis as a distinct pathway in cognitive ageing.