Fact 15: The Role of Kidney Disease in the Hypertension-Dementia Connection
Last, but certainly not least, the role of kidneys in the relationship between hypertension and dementia deserves attention. Kidney disease, often viewed as an independent condition, remarkably plays a substantial role in the triad connection of high blood pressure and dementia. Kidneys, essential for filtering waste products from the blood, are significantly affected by the fluctuations in blood pressure. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition that arises due to prolonged damage to the kidneys, and hypertension is one of the key culprits.
A continuous assault of high blood pressure on the delicate kidney tissue leads to impairment of its filtration mechanism. When kidneys fail to adequately filter the blood, toxins build up in the bloodstream. This systemic buildup not only affects the body physically but also paves the way for cognitive decline. The circulating toxins can cross the blood-brain barrier, causing neuronal damage and eventually leading to dementia.
Kidney disease and hypertension together exacerbate the risk of cerebrovascular accidents, commonly known as strokes. Strokes occur when the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off, and hypertension is a leading cause of stroke. When combined with the adverse systemic effects of kidney disease, the risk of stroke, and consequently, post-stroke dementia, significantly increases. (15)
