Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 19, 2026

Measurement of Tissue Oxygenation Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis
Published on: October 2, 2020
Intradialytic Cerebral Hypoperfusion as Mechanism for Cognitive Impairment in Patients on Hemodialysis
1Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin and Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin dwolfgram@mcw.edu.
Insights
Hemodialysis patients frequently experience cognitive impairment, possibly due to intradialytic cerebral hypoperfusion during treatment. Monitoring this cerebral blood flow may help prevent cognitive decline in these individuals.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Cognitive impairment is common in hemodialysis patients.
- In-center hemodialysis patients show higher rates of cognitive impairment.
- Vascular-mediated cerebral injury, including ischemic lesions and atrophy, contributes to cognitive decline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review intradialytic cerebral hypoperfusion during hemodialysis.
- To discuss methods for monitoring intradialytic cerebral perfusion.
- To examine the association between cerebral perfusion and cognitive outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on intradialytic cerebral hypoperfusion.
- Analysis of studies on cerebral blood flow monitoring during hemodialysis.
- Examination of cognitive outcomes linked to intradialytic cerebral perfusion changes.
Main Results:
- Hemodialysis can cause intradialytic cerebral hypoperfusion due to circulatory stress.
- Various methods exist to monitor intradialytic cerebral perfusion.
- Changes in intradialytic cerebral perfusion correlate with cognitive outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Intradialytic cerebral hypoperfusion is a potential factor in hemodialysis-related cognitive impairment.
- Monitoring intradialytic cerebral perfusion may be clinically relevant for preventing cognitive decline.
- Further research is needed to establish effective monitoring strategies and their impact on cognitive health.
Abstract:
The high frequency of cognitive impairment in individuals on hemodialysis is well characterized. In-center hemodialysis patients are disproportionately affected by cognitive impairment compared with other dialysis populations, identifying hemodialysis itself as a possible factor. The pathophysiology of cognitive impairment has multiple components, but vascular-mediated cerebral injury appears to contribute based on studies demonstrating increased cerebral ischemic lesions and atrophy in brain imaging of patients on hemodialysis. Patients on hemodialysis may be at increased risk for cerebral ischemic injury disease due to vasculopathy associated with ESKD and from their comorbid diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes. This review focuses on the intradialytic cerebral hypoperfusion that can occur during routine hemodialysis due to the circulatory stress of hemodialysis. This includes a review of current methods used to monitor intradialytic cerebral perfusion and the structural and functional cognitive outcomes that have been associated with changes in intradialytic cerebral perfusion. Monitoring of intradialytic cerebral perfusion may become clinically relevant as nephrologists try to avoid the cognitive complications seen with hemodialysis. Identifying the appropriate methods to assess risk for cerebral ischemic injury and the relationship of intradialytic cerebral hypoperfusion to cognitive outcomes will help inform the decision to use intradialytic cerebral perfusion monitoring in the clinical setting as part of a strategy to prevent cognitive decline.
More Related Videos
05:58Digital Handwriting Analysis of Characters in Chinese Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: March 11, 2021
05:12A Mouse Model for Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Based on Needle-guided Asymmetric Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Stenosis
Published on: November 22, 2024
Related Concept Videos
04:36Measurement of Tissue Oxygenation Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis
05:58Digital Handwriting Analysis of Characters in Chinese Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment
05:12A Mouse Model for Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Based on Needle-guided Asymmetric Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Stenosis
01:21Thioflavin-S Staining of Amyloid-Beta Aggregation in Cerebral Hypoperfused Mouse Brain Tissue
16:08Brain Imaging Investigation of the Impairing Effect of Emotion on Cognition
12:18A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment