Published on: Dec 04, 2025
A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that older adults with reduced kidney function have higher levels of Alzheimer’s-related proteins in the blood, but this does not directly increase their risk of developing dementia.
Led by Assistant Professor Giulia Grande at the Aging Research Center, the research followed 2,279 dementia-free individuals in Stockholm, with an average age of 72, over eight years. The team measured kidney function and blood levels of key Alzheimer’s biomarkers, including phosphorylated tau (p-tau217), neurofilament light chain (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).
Results revealed that impaired kidney function was associated with elevated biomarker levels. However, it did not raise the overall risk of dementia. Interestingly, among participants with high biomarker levels—especially NfL—those with poorer kidney function experienced an earlier onset of dementia symptoms.
This suggests that kidney health may influence the timing of symptoms in individuals already showing signs of neurodegeneration, rather than being a direct cause.
The findings highlight the importance of considering kidney function when interpreting Alzheimer’s blood biomarkers in older adults, which could help clinicians better predict disease progression.
The study used data from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K), with comprehensive clinical assessments and long-term follow-up.
Source: https://news.ki.se/kidney-health-affects-alzheimers-blood-biomarkers-but-not-dementia-risk
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