Islamabad-According to a recent study, researcher suggested that people who have protein in their urine might have higher odds of developing problems with memory and thinking down the line, and they may even develop dementia.
Researchers trawled through all available publications focused on kidney problems and the development of cognitive impairment or dementia, in order to summarize the best available evidence and connect the dots between the two conditions.
The brain and kidneys are both end organs and share similar structural and mechanical features, which makes them susceptible to vascular damage. Several pathways might link chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cognitive impairment, including the shared vascular factors.
“CKD and dementia share many risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, and both show similar effects on the brain, so they may have shared vascular factors or there may even be a direct effect on the brain from kidney problems,” says Kay Deckers, of Maastricht University in the Netherlands.
The authors of the study say that the exact mechanisms relating kidney impairment to dementia are not entirely understood. However, traditional risk factors and other factors that they have in common may play a part.
The authors write, “Traditional risk factors include cardiovascular disease (e.g., myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation), stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, isolated systolic hypertension, age, smoking, and hypercholesterolemia.”
“Other factors include anaemia, albumin, and hyperhomocysteinemia, whereas inflammation, oxidative stress, cerebral small vessel disease, silent brain infarcts, micro bleeds, and white matter lesions are possible underlying mechanisms leading to cognitive impairment or dementia.”
The analysis found that, compared with individuals without the protein in their urine, people with the urine protein were 35 per cent more likely to develop cognitive impairment or dementia.
Deckers and team say that their large population-based study adds to the growing evidence that kidney dysfunction is an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment or dementia.
However, limitations of the study include the fact that most of the studies used different methods for estimating renal function and this was only tested once, usually at the start of the study.
Kay Deckers said that “Protein in the urine was associated with a modestly increased risk of cognitive impairment or dementia. More research is needed to determine whether the kidney problems are a cause of the cognitive problems or if they are both caused by the same mechanisms.”
In addition to examining the association of albuminuria, Deckers and colleagues also observed other markers of kidney function. The first marker analyzed was estimated glomerular filtration rate. The results from this marker were mixed and showed no significant relationship with cognitive impairment or dementia.
Analysis of the other three other markers of kidney function - cystatin C, serum creatinine, and creatinine clearance - could not be completed due to too many variations in the approach of the studies, which made them incomparable.
Similarly another study suggests that when you undergo anxiety your body experience a huge change. One way to mitigate anxiety is to do breathing exercises which helps calm you down.
However, it is also important to know the correct techniques when it comes to breathing exercises. Breathing just through your chest won’t do you any favour; this sort of shallow breathing simply disturbs the stability of carbon dioxide and oxygen, which is required to be in a relaxed state.
Here are three simple breathing exercises to calm anxiety.
For this technique, one can sit or stand, whatever is more comfortable. Ensure that your body isn’t rigid. Relax your hands, shoulders and face. Begin by breathing in slowly through the nose and count till five.
Your tummy needs to expand when you breathe in. Hold for two seconds and breathe out slowly as you count till five. Repeat this for about 15 to 20 minutes and see how you calm down.
Aimed at lowering anxiety and stress levels, this technique is another quick way to calm you. Begin by relaxing your shoulders. Constrict your throat slightly so you can hear your breathing. Use your fingers to cover your eyes and ears. Keep your lips and teeth slightly open and when you exhale, make a slight sound. Repeat this exercise 10 to 12 times. Find yourself constantly getting anxiety attacks? This breathing technique helps your mind and body get back into a state of equilibrium. Start by slowly breathing through your nose. Your body has to be loose and relaxed. Place one hand on your stomach and one on your chest. Make sure your stomach expands more than your chest. Slowly exhale through your mouth, but keep your lips shut slightly. A sound may emerge from your mouth when you exhale.