Acute kidney injury: Is it a risk factor for long-term cognitive decline.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common both general population and in hospitalized patients. Previously, AKI was considered reversible condition without long-term adverse impacts, but it is now recognized that AKI predicts future adverse clinical outcomes such as chronic kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease and heart disease. In addition, recent studies showed that future cognitive dysfunction and dementia risk are increased after AKI. Although the mechanisms regarding acute cognitive dysfunction during AKI are considerably understood, the underlying pathologies causing chronic cognitive dysfunction and increased long term dementia risk after AKI are not well elucidated. Potential culprits include persistent systemic inflammation and structural brain alterations after AKI. In this review, we first summarized the studies investigating the impact of AKI on future dementia risk and cognitive function. Then, we highlighted the mechanisms regarding acute cognitive decline during AKI, and also discuss potential mechanisms regarding chronic cognitive decline after AKI. Lastly, we discussed potential therapeutic options to mitigate future cognitive decline after AKI.