High Levels Of Albumin In The Urine Linked To Increased Risk Of Dementia

2 months ago

A study shows that group pinch higher levels of nan macromolecule albumin successful their urine are astatine accrued consequence of processing dementia. The study, led by researchers astatine Karolinska Institutet, is published successful nan technological diary Journal of Internal Medicine.

Although property remains nan biggest consequence facet for processing dementia, researchers person progressively shown that diseases successful different parts of nan body, specified arsenic nan kidneys, tin besides impact nan brain.
In nan caller study, nan researchers were capable to show that group pinch higher levels of albumin successful their urine, an abnormal information known arsenic albuminuria (see truth box), are astatine accrued consequence of processing dementia later successful life.

This relation was strongest for vascular dementia, nan 2nd astir communal shape of dementia aft Alzheimer's disease, often caused by stroke, precocious humor pressure, diabetes, aliases different vascular diseases, and for mixed dementia, which combines features of vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

The study included 130,000 older adults successful Stockholm, each complete nan property of 65 and free of dementia astatine nan commencement of nan study. During a follow-up play of astir 4 years, 7 percent of nan participants developed dementia.

After taking into relationship kidney usability and different factors, nan researchers recovered that group pinch mean levels of nan macromolecule albumin successful their urine (30-299 mg/g) had a 25 percent higher consequence of processing dementia, while those pinch precocious levels (≥300 mg/g) had a 37 percent higher consequence compared to group pinch normal levels (<30 mg/g).

Higher levels of this macromolecule bespeak kidney harm and, according to this study, whitethorn besides awesome a higher consequence of dementia.

The kidneys and nan encephalon whitethorn look for illustration very different organs, but they stock an important characteristic: some dangle connected a delicate web of mini humor vessels. When nan humor vessels successful nan kidneys are damaged, nan aforesaid process often occurs successful nan brain."

Hong Xu, past author, adjunct professor astatine nan Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society astatine Karolinska Institutet

An important constituent is nan blood-brain barrier, a protective furniture that prevents harmful substances successful nan humor from entering nan brain. Just arsenic a damaged kidney select leaks proteins into nan urine, a damaged blood-brain obstruction allows toxins and inflammatory molecules to nan encephalon tissue. Over time, this increases nan consequence of vascular damage, inflammation, and accumulation of harmful proteins linked to dementia.

"These results underscore nan value of regular screening for albuminuria arsenic portion of early dementia consequence assessment, particularly successful patients pinch precocious humor pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, aliases kidney disease. Early discovery of albuminuria could perchance hold aliases forestall nan onset of dementia," says Hong Xu.

The study was funded by nan Center for Innovative Medicine Foundation (CIMED), nan Swedish Research Council, nan U&L Angeby Foundation, nan Petrus and Augusta Hedlund Foundation, and nan Åke Wiberg Foundation, among others.

Source:

Journal reference:

Luo, L., et al. (2025). Albuminuria is associated pinch accrued consequence of dementia, independent of eGFR: The SCREAM project. Journal of Internal Medicine. doi.org/10.1111/joim.70022