Acidosis, cognitive dysfunction and motor impairments in patients with kidney disease.

Metabolic acidosis, defined as a plasma or serum bicarbonate concentration <22 mmol/L, is a frequent consequence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and occurs in ~10-30% of patients with advanced stages of CKD. Likewise, in patients with a kidney transplant, prevalence rates of metabolic acidosis range from 20% to 50%. CKD has recently been associated with cognitive dysfunction, including mild cognitive impairment with memory and attention deficits, reduced executive functions and morphological damage detectable with imaging. Also, impaired motor functions and loss of muscle strength are often found in patients with advanced CKD, which in part may be attributed to altered central nervous system (CNS) functions. While the exact mechanisms of how CKD may cause cognitive dysfunction and reduced motor functions are still debated, recent data point towards the possibility that acidosis is one modifiable contributor to cognitive dysfunction. This review summarizes recent evidence for an association between acidosis and cognitive dysfunction in patients with CKD and discusses potential mechanisms by which acidosis may impact CNS functions. The review also identifies important open questions to be answered to improve prevention and therapy of cognitive dysfunction in the setting of metabolic acidosis in patients with CKD.

INTRODUCTION

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes complex endocrine and metabolic disturbances, leading to bone disease and excessive cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Among these endocrine disturbances are reduced levels of α-klotho and calcitriol and an increase in fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and accumulation of uraemic toxins, including elevation of serum phosphate, as well as reduced erythropoietin levels and anaemia. Advanced stages of CKD also entail salt and water retention, along with hyperkalaemia and metabolic acidosis [1]. More recently, cognitive dysfunction and impaired motor functions have been associated with CKD and recognized as another complication that impacts on the quality of life of affected patients [2-6]. The term cognitive dysfunction is not very well defined but generally includes deficits in declarative learning, related memory formation and sensory processing. Also, sleep problems and mood disorders are linked to altered brain function in patients with CKD. Motor deficits are found in these patients that may encompass not only aberrations in central nervous system (CNS) functioning, but also remodelling of peripheral nerve and muscle configurations. This review focuses on the role of metabolic acidosis as a potential risk factor or contributor to the development of cognitive dysfunction and motor deficits in patients with CKD. We will review the evidence that associates metabolic acidosis with impaired brain functions, discuss potential mechanisms and raise questions that should be addressed both clinically as well as in model organisms to provide a better understanding of this problem.

Metabolic acidosis in patients with CKD

Metabolic acidosis is a common complication of patients with CKD and increases in prevalence with the progression of kidney disease [7]. Between 10% and 20% of patients with Stage G4 CKD have overt metabolic acidosis, which increases to 30–40% of patients with Stage G5 CKD (Figure 1) [1, 9–11]. Acidosis is defined here as a process causing a positive hydrogen (H+) balance in (extracellular) fluid compartments and encompasses overt acidosis when serum or plasma bicarbonate (HCO3−) [or total carbon dioxide (CO2)] falls to <22 mmol/L and/or a blood pH <7.36 as well as eubicarbonataemic acidosis when systemic HCO3− and pH are within normal limits but acid accumulation occurs in some organs (see also below). This definition is somewhat arbitrary, as only a few risk analyses have assessed the threshold for upper and lower HCO3− levels that associate with disease risks and serum pH might influence the association between serum HCO3−, renal failure and other disease risks [12]. As discussed below, such an analysis is also missing for the association between HCO3− levels and cognitive dysfunction. However, an association study in an elderly population for HCO3− level and all-cause mortality suggests that mortality is lowest in individuals with HCO3− values from 23 to 26 mmol/L [13]. In patients with CKD Stages G3 and G4, all-cause mortality is lowest between 23 and 32 mmol/L [14]. Overt metabolic acidosis is also frequently encountered in kidney transplant recipients and the prevalence reported in various studies ranges between 20% and 50% of patients [7, 15]. In these patients, metabolic acidosis may be caused by not only reduced kidney function, but also promoted by some immunosuppressants such as calcineurin inhibitors, immunological factors, the process of donation and donor characteristics and diet [15].

FIGURE 1

Prevalence of MCI and metabolic acidosis (MA) in patients with reduced kidney function. The prevalence of MCI and MA as a function of eGFR is estimated from several studies that reported the prevalence of MCI or MA in patients with reduced kidney function [1, 3, 5, 7, 8]. Cross-sectional studies analysing the prevalence of both clinical entities in the same cohort of patients have not been reported to date.

More recently, a novel concept of eubicarbonataemic acidosis has been introduced postulating accumulation of acid equivalents in a tissue under conditions of normal systemic acid–base balance [9, 10]. In kidney disease, acid retention in the kidney may drive kidney disease progression and possibly also some of the systemic alterations, such as changes in circulating hormones (i.e. endothelin or the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system), while blood pH, HCO3− and partial pressure of arterial CO2 remain within normal limits. This concept is based mostly on observations in rat CKD models and lower urinary citrate excretion in patients with CKD [16, 17]. Unfortunately, no methods exist that allow measurement of local tissue pH with sufficient spatial and chemical resolution in vivo in humans to corroborate this model. An immediate consequence of this model would be the need to treat acidosis with alkali equivalents at early stages of kidney disease and before the occurrence of overt systemic acidosis to delay further progression of kidney disease. The implementation of a more holistic assessment of the metabolic acidosis of CKD may need to take into consideration multiple parameters, such as urinary citrate and ammonium, blood pH, serum HCO3− (or total CO2) and, in the future, other new early diagnostic markers or the direct measurement of tissue pH [18].

Multiple processes, conditions and diseases can lead to acidosis, but this review focuses on metabolic acidosis in the setting of CKD. Chronic metabolic acidosis is a condition in which the daily acid load exceeds the capacity of (remnant) kidneys to excrete H+ and regenerate HCO3− consumed by metabolism. In CKD, this is typically caused by the diminished capacity of kidneys to excrete acids and generate new HCO3− rather than an augmented daily acid load, although the latter can aggravate pre-existing acidosis, for example, in diabetic nephropathy with ketoacidosis. The main process that causes acidosis in CKD is the loss of ammoniagenesis, which acts as the main adaptive mechanism to excrete acid in the form of ammonium and to regenerate HCO3− [9, 19].

Cognitive dysfunction, motor dysfunction and acidosis in patients with CKD

Overt metabolic acidosis is a hallmark of advanced stages of CKD, while a higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been observed already in the early stages of CKD [3]. Only a few studies have examined the association between acidosis or serum/plasma HCO3− and brain functions. These will be discussed next.

Dobre et al. [2] examined memory and cognition in the cross-sectional SPRINT-MIND (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial Memory and Cognition in Decreased Hypertension) cohort, including 2853 hypertensive non-diabetic participants. The mean age of participants was 68 years, the mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 71 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 30% had CKD. About 20% of participants had a HCO3− level <24 mmol/L. In this cohort, a 1 mmol/L lower HCO3− level associated with poorer performance in various tests on global cognitive or executive functions. This association persisted even after correction for eGFR and albuminuria. However, the positive association was attenuated when corrected for structural brain abnormalities typical for CKD detected by brain magnetic resonance imaging in a representative subset of patients. There was some specificity, as HCO3− did not associate with tests of memory, attention or language. Of note, the cognitive domains associated with low HCO3− in the SPRINT-MIND cohort are distinct from those found in patients with CKD, suggesting that distinct mechanisms may be responsible.

In a subset of participants in the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study, a longitudinal study in older individuals (70–79 years), the association between serum HCO3− level and functional limitation was examined [4]. Functional limitation was scored based on the ability to walk a short distance and to climb stairs on two consecutive occasions 6 months apart with a follow-up of from 3 to 6 years. A total of 1544 participants were analysed with ~10% having HCO3− levels <23 mmol/L, while nearly 35% had levels >26 mmol/L. CKD was most prevalent in the low-HCO3− group. Participants with low HCO3− also had a lower blood pH and lower partial pressure of CO2, demonstrating that low HCO3− levels were unlikely to be due to respiratory problems. Those with the lowest HCO3− levels had the highest risk of developing functional limitations during the follow-up and this association persisted after multiple adjustments. Of note, both CKD and low HCO3− were independent risk factors for functional limitation. Some participants developed severe functional limitations, and this was associated with both a low HCO3− and a low blood pH, while blood pH showed no effect for milder functional limitations. Similar findings on the association of low HCO3− with lower gait speed and quadriceps strength had been reported previously in 2675 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002 [20]. About 23% of participants had bicarbonate levels <23 mmol/L and were more likely to have CKD or diabetes. The association also persisted after multiple adjustments. However, this study was based on a single HCO3− measurement and the outcome measures probably reflected muscle function rather than central coordination.

Afsar and Elsurer [21] examined a small cohort of 65 patients on haemodialysis, measuring standard biochemical and clinical parameters as well as indicators of cognitive function, depression and sleep quality using well-established tests. In this cohort, lower venous blood HCO3− was associated with lower sleep quality, while no significant association was detected for cognitive functions and depression. However, this study lacked a control group, and as most of these patients had HCO3− levels <22 mmol/L, stratification could not be performed. The authors speculated that poor sleep quality was caused mainly by sleep apnoea. Another cross-sectional study with 190 CKD patients and 100 healthy patients in Nigeria found a negative association between serum HCO3− level and global cognitive impairment [22]. We identified only one study conducted in children with CKD that looked at the association between HCO3− and executive functions [23]. Acidosis was defined in this cohort as a serum HCO3− ≤20 mmol/L at baseline. Blood pressure variability and several cognitive tests as well as parental assessments of childrens’ cognitive function were analysed in children >6 years of age and with a median follow-up of 11.6 years. Most children were in CKD Stages G2–3. About 20% of children had HCO3− levels <20 mmol/L and this was associated with higher blood pressure, lower eGFR and higher proteinuria. However, neither HCO3− nor blood pressure was independently associated with executive functions. An interaction was found between blood pressure variability and HCO3− levels with executive functions, which showed that low HCO3− together with high blood pressure variability was associated with a worse score for executive functions. Thus one potential interpretation of this association is that HCO3− modifies the well-known effect of high blood pressure on the risk for reduced executive functions: as discussed below, pH alters the vascular reactivity of brain vessels and may modify this relationship.

Interventional studies using alkalinizing therapies in patients with CKD and acidosis have not examined their impact on cognitive function. One study reported the effect of oral sodium HCO3− supplements in a small study with 20 patients with an eGFR between 15 and 25 mL/min/1.73 m2 and serum HCO3− in the range of 20–24 mmol/L for 6 weeks. Alkali therapy improved the sit-to-stand time, while not changing hand grip strength [24]. While the sit-to-stand time might also include some aspects of central coordination, it may also be explained by increasing lower limb muscle strength. Likewise, de Brito-Ashurst et al. [25] reported that mid-arm muscle circumference increased in patients with CKD and acidosis when given alkali therapy. However, this improvement was linked to an overall improvement in nutritional status and again is unlikely to reflect motor control.

Metabolic acidosis or CKD as a cause of cognitive dysfunction?

The composition of the extracellular compartment is altered in patients with CKD, with imbalances in electrolytes and minerals, accumulation of uraemic toxins, volume expansion and accumulation of acids. Some of these disturbances are ameliorated in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis or haemodialysis, which also improves cognitive dysfunction and mood alterations. Other problems may be introduced by these treatment modalities, such as a reduction in brain blood flow or rapid alterations in acid–base parameters in haemodialysis. Unfortunately the association between acidosis or its amelioration by renal replacement therapy and cognitive dysfunction has not received much attention. While the associations between both cognitive dysfunctions and CKD as well as cognitive dysfunction and metabolic acidosis in CKD have become more apparent in recent years, it remains unclear how much can be directly attributed to metabolic acidosis. This is inherent to epidemiological associations, which usually do not establish causal links and direction of any dependencies. Moreover, there are other conditions with acidosis in which cognitive dysfunction and motor deficits are less common; in patients with tubulopathies such as inborn or acquired forms of distal renal tubular acidosis, cognitive and motor deficits are not part of the normal disease spectrum unless severe hypokalaemia develops, which can lead to muscle paralysis [26, 27]. Likewise, proximal renal tubular acidosis due to mutations in the SLC4A4 transporter does not cause cognitive dysfunction [28]. In rare cases of proximal tubular acidosis (type II RTA), intellectual disabilities may occur but are explained in part by the direct role of these genes in the CNS in addition to their role in regulating systemic acid–base homeostasis. Indeed, many genes that are expressed in the kidney are also expressed in the brain, often contributing to transport of ions as well as concentration control of electrolytes [29-31]. Examples include mutations in carbonic anhydrase II, which is expressed in kidney and in various CNS structures, as its mutations can lead to local calcifications in the brain [32], and the OCRL gene that leads to Lowe syndrome [33]. On the other hand, in patients with intact kidney function and chronic hypercapnia or patients with sleep apnoea and intermittent episodes of hypercapnia hypoxaemia, reduced vascular reactivity to CO2/pH and cognitive dysfunction have been reported. Clearly, better-powered and detailed clinical association studies are required to further dissect the possible contribution of acidosis as a risk factor for the development of cognitive dysfunction. Furthermore, intervention studies with correction of acid–base status could also provide evidence for a causal link between acidosis and cognitive dysfunction. Ideally these studies would be embedded into some of the larger trials aiming to reduce loss of kidney function with alkalizing therapies.

Mechanisms by which acidosis may impact on kidney disease progression

Acidosis has been shown to accelerate progression of CKD by multiple mechanisms. However, the relative contribution of each mechanism to reduced kidney function is unknown. We will briefly discuss these mechanisms here and examine later whether they might also be relevant for the brain:

Accumulation of ammonium in the kidney tissue leading to activation of the alternative complement pathway. This causes local inflammation, fibrosis and ultimately reduced kidney function [34]. Additionally, lower urine pH may lead to activation of the alternative complement pathway [35].

Renal tissue H+ retention has been proposed to stimulate the (local) production of hormones like endothelin, angiotensin II and aldosterone, which in turn cause renal inflammation and fibrosis [9, 36, 37].

α-Klotho is a protein required for FGF23 signalling that also has anti-inflammatory and renoprotective effects. Its levels fall early with a decrease in GFR and alkali therapy protects renal α-klotho levels in CKD patients [38].

Extrarenal inflammation. The effects of extracellular acidosis on immune cells have been covered by multiple studies [39], but except for indirect associations, a pH-dependent modulation of the immune response in CKD has not been shown. Oral HCO3− supplementation given to a hypertensive kidney disease rat model activated polarization of macrophages to the anti-inflammatory M2 type, suggesting that acidosis might regulate splenic immune responses in CKD [40].

Can acidosis contribute to cognitive dysfunction in CKD?

The pH-dependent mechanisms that may contribute to progression of renal disease should also be considered as possible modifiers of brain function. This poses three questions: Can acidosis of CKD contribute to cognitive dysfunction? Can the same or similar mechanisms contribute to kidney disease and brain dysfunction? Which other pH-dependent mechanisms may cause cognitive dysfunction?

The relationship between systemic pH and HCO3− levels and brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pH is only partially understood. In 1969, repeated measurements in four humans showed that 5 days of acid or alkali load produced much narrower changes in the CSF pH compared with arterial pH [41]. Similar findings were obtained from patients with CKD compared with normal individuals [42]. Multiple studies have demonstrated that pH and HCO3− are lower in the CSF than in plasma in normal conditions and reductions in both parameters are highly attenuated in the CSF during metabolic acidosis [43]. In steady-state conditions, pH and HCO3− are expected to be the same in the CSF and brain extracellular fluid (ECF). However, in non-steady-state conditions, the values of these parameters tend to dissociate between these compartments [44]. Acidaemia causes smaller, but significant, changes in the same direction in brain ECF, even when CSF pH is unaltered [45, 46]. However, very small changes in the ECF pH during exercise, physical work and acute or chronic metabolic acidosis are capable of altering ventilatory responses and cerebral blood flow (CBF) [43]. Therefore, chronic low-grade metabolic acidosis may alter brain acid–base status and blood flow.

Even though chronic acidaemia may well translate into a more acidic environment in the brain, it is currently unclear to what extent eubicarbonataemic metabolic acidosis can affect the brain acid–base balance. Given that the acid–base changes in brain ECF are smaller than in arterial pH in individuals during overt chronic metabolic acidosis, one would need to account for very small changes (if any) in brain local acid–base status in cases of subclinical acidosis. Moreover, arguments that negative effects of subclinical acidosis on kidneys occur because of augmented ammoniagenesis cannot be applied to the brain. Also, while ammonia toxicity in the brain is well described [46], CKD is not a state of higher blood ammonia levels and therefore an accumulation of ammonium in the brain is unlikely [47]. Thus the accumulation of H+ and/or in brain tissue in eubicarbonataemic metabolic acidosis is unlikely to cause cognitive dysfunction. Recently, astrocytes have been shown to secrete HCO3− in response to purinergic signalling and consequently protect extracellular pH of the brain in response to a higher metabolic demand [48]. The in-tandem organization of the blood–brain barrier and astrocytes generates a ‘buffering wall’ in the brain, attenuating changes in extracellular pH and HCO3−. This involves a set of HCO3− importing or exporting transporters located in various brain cell types that, when absent in rodents, can affect diverse brain functions [49]. While hypoxia and hypercapnia impact the expression of several of these transporters [50, 51], the effect of CKD or metabolic acidosis has not been examined.

Another family of proteins involved in local and systemic control of pH homeostasis is carbonic anhydrase, which catalyses the hydration of CO2 to form carbonic acid (H2CO3) and subsequently H+ and HCO3−. At least nine isoforms of carbonic anhydrase are present in the human brain in different areas and cell types and their importance is highlighted by mutations in carbonic anhydrase II or IV, which causes intellectual disabilities or blindness. Pharmacological inhibition of carbonic anhydrase in young rats lowered intracellular pH in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum and increased CSF HCO3− levels without altering CSF pH [52]. In animal models, genetic ablation of some carbonic anhydrase isoforms or inhibition with acetazolamide reduced carbonic anhydrase activity in the brain and caused amnesia in object recognition tests [53, 54]. At least in animal models, carbonic anhydrase activators enhance memory formation [53]. Fear conditions and consolidation were also affected. In humans, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as topiramate are used to treat migraine and prevent epilepsy but impair processes involved in memory formation. Also, acetazolamide given for prevention of high-altitude sickness has similar effects on memory. In both cases, particularly emotional memory is affected. While the exact mechanisms by which carbonic anhydrases act on memory are mostly elusive, some evidence suggests that changes in local HCO3− concentrations affect neurotransmitter fluxes and excitability of GABAergic neurons [53], which in turn can affect motor learning [55].

α-Klotho is a protein required for FGF23 signalling and is mostly expressed in the kidney, parathyroid glands and choroid plexus. It exists as a membrane-bound form and after cleavage as soluble α-klotho circulating in the blood. The kidney is the main source of soluble α-klotho and the expression of α-klotho in the kidney decreases rapidly in the course of acute or chronic kidney disease [56]. In the brain, α-klotho deficiency impacts immune functions and complete absence of α-klotho is associated with Parkinson-like motor deficits that may be attributed in part to highly elevated calcitriol levels [57]. α-Klotho may also be protective of cognitive function [58, 59]. While calcitriol is typically rather low in patients with CKD, the local expression and concentration of α-klotho in the brain has not been characterized. Alkali therapy, by protecting kidney function, could indirectly influence brain function via klotho. A pilot study with CKD patients showed that HCO3− supplementation restored urinary but not serum α-klotho levels [38]. Additional studies are necessary to examine the role of α-klotho in the brain, its role in CKD and its sensitivity to systemic and/or local changes in acid–base status.

Metabolic acidosis of CKD could also affect the brain indirectly by altering the release of hormones into the bloodstream. Circulating renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) components have low permeability across the blood–brain barrier and are unlikely to be causes of cognitive dysfunction [60]. However, high levels of circulating endothelin-1 disturb the integrity of the blood–brain barrier, cause brain microvascular dysfunction and impair cognitive function [61, 62]. While blood endothelin levels are associated with both acidosis and CKD, and alkali therapy reduced plasma and urinary endothelin-1 levels in CKD patients [37], a recent clinical trial did not observe any reduction in urinary endothelin levels in acidotic CKD patients receiving alkali [63].

Although acidosis has been proposed as a direct immunomodulatory factor [39, 64], the effects of chronic metabolic acidosis on systemic inflammation are controversial and still poorly understood [65]. Short-term exposure to HCO3− in drinking water reduced the abundance of neutrophils and shifted macrophages towards an M2 phenotype in human blood [40]. If chronic metabolic acidosis can affect systemic inflammation, it could also affect brain functions in CKD patients. Indeed, inflammation per se can disrupt the blood–brain barrier, making it potentially more permeable to neurotoxic substances and metabolites, including uraemic toxins [66-68]. Also, inflammation increases the risk of vascular damage in the brain that again may alter cognitive function [69]. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) can directly act on the brain or mediate effects via afferent nerves [70]. Locally, pH could also affect inflammation. In animals, chronic hypercapnia induces an inflammatory response in the midbrain, brainstem and cerebrum followed by changes in glutamatergic, serotonergic and catecholaminergic neurotransmission [71, 72]. Whether this response is triggered by local acidosis or other mediators is unclear, but it seems to involve IL-1β signalling, which is often enhanced in patients with CKD. As discussed above, α-klotho is highly expressed in the choroid plexus and if its expression at this site follows the same pattern of decline as in the kidney and parathyroid glands of patients and animal models of CKD, the reduced levels of α-klotho may increase brain inflammation [73]. The absence of brain α-klotho in a murine model stimulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and macrophage invasion into the brain. Also, microglial cells were activated. α-Klotho appears to act in part via suppression of the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages. Strikingly, α-klotho levels in the brain decline with age and similarities in cognitive dysfunction in patients with CKD and elderly patients with age-related decline in cognitive functions have been noted. Whether lower α-klotho levels in the brain are a common pathway in these different clinical entities remains to be explored.

Additionally, brain metabolism and CBF may be pH sensitive and contribute to cognitive dysfunction in patients with CKD. Brain metabolism is controlled by multiple factors including blood flow and pH-dependent mechanisms [48, 74]. Cerebral glutamine uptake was reduced in normal human subjects with ammonium chloride loading for 3 or 6 days and in CKD patients with severe acidosis [75]. Glutamine transport in the brain might be affected by the activity of HCO3− transporters. The astrocytic–neuronal lactate shuttle model proposes that astrocytes respond to a higher metabolic demand by stimulating glycolysis and exporting lactate to the extracellular space, which can fuel the energy metabolism of neurons [76]. Interestingly, a recent study demonstrated that astrocytes secrete HCO3− in concert with local neuronal energy demand [48]. As for glutamine, lactate transporters seem to be affected by HCO3− transport activity as well as by other H+-dependent mechanisms [77].

Acid–base status also directly impacts synaptic activity, which is the largest sink of energy equivalents in the brain [78]. As a rule of thumb, acidosis tends to reduce neuronal excitability and alkalosis to increase it [79]. While acidic pH is associated with lower synaptic activity, H+ has also been implicated in excitotoxicity [80]. Exposure of murine brain slices to an acidic perfusate overexcites murine pyramidal neurons and astrocytes, both impairing activity of GABAergic neurons [29–31, 81, 82]. The impaired activity of GABAergic neurons has been documented in experimental CKD models [68]. Therefore, given the close relationship between brain metabolism and acid–base status, it is tempting to speculate that a chronic low-grade metabolic acidosis might affect brain metabolism by regulating the transport of key substrates for energy metabolism and synaptic activity, besides other potential indirect effects via modulation of CBF and glycaemic control [83].

Both high and low CBF can affect brain function [84]. While decreased kidney function is associated with reduced CBF [85], other concurrent and common conditions in CKD, such as anaemia, can cause brain hyperperfusion [86]. Acid–base status also alters CBF, with metabolic and respiratory acidosis increasing CBF and alkalosis having the opposite effect [41, 87, 88]. However, in a CKD mouse model, the CBF induced by hypercapnia was initially increased but eventually attenuated, suggesting altered vascular reactivity and possible secondary consequences on brain metabolism [89]. Therefore it could be speculated that acidosis may harm the brain by elevating CBF and causing excitotoxicity. In the SPRINT study, serum HCO3− levels were associated with cognitive and executive performance, but not with CBF [2]. In another study with 2645 participants, high CBF in CKD patients was associated with a lower prevalence of stroke and dementia when compared with low-CBF patients [85]. Therefore, while theoretical aspects support that an elevation of CBF in response to chronic metabolic acidosis might drive cognitive dysfunction, high-quality data are still missing.

Chronic metabolic acidosis also results in renal magnesium wasting and hypomagnesaemia is often one of the features of acidosis. Even though there are few data linking magnesium and CKD progression, in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, higher dietary magnesium was associated with a lower risk of CKD [90]. Acidosis-associated hypomagnesaemia might contribute to cognitive dysfunction. Magnesium regulates neuronal transmission, protein synthesis and energy metabolism and magnesium deficiency mostly affects nervous and cardiovascular systems, resulting in weakness, tremors and even seizures. Magnesium is also implicated in memory function and neuronal plasticity, acting as an allosteric modulator of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors involved in long-term potentiation. Another possible mechanism could be the association of low magnesium and neuroinflammation [91]. In a mouse model, a low-magnesium diet resulted in brain neuroinflammation, affecting the hippocampus and cortex, and impaired memory formation. Low magnesium is also associated with vascular damage that might affect CBF [92]. Last, low magnesium levels accelerate the loss of renal α-klotho expression [93].

SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK

A number of epidemiological studies demonstrate an association between low HCO3− and mild cognitive and motor impairment in the general population and identify an even more accentuated association in patients with CKD. Mechanistic studies demonstrating a causal link between acid–base status and brain function are not available yet and possible mechanisms can only be inferred (see hypothetical model in Figure 2). Thus a first step is to examine whether low HCO3− and/or acidosis are a cause of or only coexist with disturbed CNS function. A second step consists in examining which mechanisms modulated by low HCO3−/acidosis can affect CNS functions. This may allow identification of biomarkers to predict or monitor alterations of CNS function as well as to find pathways or molecular targets for treatment. A third step is to design clinical trials that test whether amelioration of acidosis is not only beneficial in preserving residual kidney function, but also positively impacts the loss of central brain functions or has the ability to reverse these changes. The growing recognition that kidney disease affects central and peripheral neuronal function is a critical step towards better preservation of brain organ functions in patients with reduced kidney function. A better understanding of the factors linking kidney disease and impaired brain function is necessary and acidosis/low HCO3− needs to be considered among other factors such as uraemic toxins, vascular changes or alterations in neurotransmitters and brain metabolism.

FIGURE 2

Model summarizing possible links between CKD, metabolic acidosis and cognitive dysfunction and motor deficits. Reduced kidney function causes, among other consequences, accumulation of uraemic toxins and metabolic acidosis, and both may act on the brain to reduce central functions. In addition, immune functions are altered by both factors, leading to higher levels of pro-inflammatory factors that may also affect the brain. Reduced kidney function is also associated with reduced renal expression of α-klotho and reduced circulating levels of soluble α-klotho. Whether brain α-klotho expression is directly affected has not been examined. α-Klotho has neuroprotective functions.