OBJECTIVE: The association between hyperuricemia and cardiovascular risk is widely known, and hyperuricemia is associated with many pathological conditions due to its effect on the endothelial function and metabolic homeostasis. The aim of this study was to verify whether the available literature may support the hypothesis that uric acid has a protective and stimulating effect on the cerebral cortex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the actual knowledge of the positive effects of uric acid in terms of antioxidant action, neuroprotection, cognitive function, and intellectual performance. CONCLUSIONS: Uric acid has a stimulating effect on the cerebral cortex, and this could have allowed humans, compared with other animals, to develop higher brain mass volume, better intellectual performances, and maybe evolutionary supremacy. On the other, a growing body of evidence is accumulating on the independent association between uric acid and cardiovascular risk. A careful interpretation of uric acid levels is appropriate and necessary in different kinds of patients, both at risk of cardiovascular or neurodegenerative diseases, due to its contrasting significance.
OBJECTIVE: The association between hyperuricemia and cardiovascular risk is widely known, and hyperuricemia is associated with many pathological conditions due to its effect on the endothelial function and metabolic homeostasis. The aim of this study was to verify whether the available literature may support the hypothesis that uric acid has a protective and stimulating effect on the cerebral cortex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the actual knowledge of the positive effects of uric acid in terms of antioxidant action, neuroprotection, cognitive function, and intellectual performance. CONCLUSIONS:Uric acid has a stimulating effect on the cerebral cortex, and this could have allowed humans, compared with other animals, to develop higher brain mass volume, better intellectual performances, and maybe evolutionary supremacy. On the other, a growing body of evidence is accumulating on the independent association between uric acid and cardiovascular risk. A careful interpretation of uric acid levels is appropriate and necessary in different kinds of patients, both at risk of cardiovascular or neurodegenerative diseases, due to its contrasting significance.
Authors: A Mantovani; R Rigolon; A Civettini; B Bolzan; G Morani; S Bonapace; C Dugo; G Zoppini; E Bonora; G Targher Journal: J Endocrinol Invest Date: 2017-07-15 Impact factor: 4.256
Authors: Erin L Richard; Linda K McEvoy; Steven Y Cao; Eyal Oren; John E Alcaraz; Andrea Z LaCroix; Rany M Salem Journal: J Neurol Sci Date: 2021-09-14 Impact factor: 4.553
Authors: Sophie Liabeuf; Marion Pepin; Casper F M Franssen; Davide Viggiano; Sol Carriazo; Ron T Gansevoort; Loreto Gesualdo; Gaye Hafez; Jolanta Malyszko; Christopher Mayer; Dorothea Nitsch; Alberto Ortiz; Vesna Pešić; Andrzej Wiecek; Ziad A Massy Journal: Nephrol Dial Transplant Date: 2021-12-28 Impact factor: 5.992