Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 5, 2025

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Healthy and unhealthy aging on kidney structure and function: human studies
Aleksandar Denic1, Andrew D Rule1, Richard J Glassock2
1Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
Kidney aging involves structural and functional changes, impacting kidney health. Differentiating healthy aging from chronic kidney disease (CKD) is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Gerontology
- Pathology
Background:
- Kidney aging is a complex process.
- Distinguishing healthy aging from chronic kidney disease (CKD) presents challenges.
- Understanding the molecular basis of kidney aging is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an updated analysis of kidney structural and functional changes during human aging.
- To examine macro- and micro-structural alterations and glomerular filtration rate.
- To discuss the phenotypes of healthy and unhealthy kidney aging.
Main Methods:
- Review of comparative findings on kidney anatomy in aging.
- Discussion of challenges in defining CKD in aging populations.
- Exploration of the interactions between CKD and aging.
Main Results:
- Anatomic changes in the kidney occur with both healthy and unhealthy aging.
- Podocyte dysbiosis plays a role in kidney aging.
- Phenotypic differences in kidney aging are observable.
Conclusions:
- Kidney aging is intricate and often overlaps with CKD.
- Further research into the molecular aspects of normal kidney aging is needed.
- Clarifying the relationship between aging and CKD is critical for patient care.
Related Concept Videos
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion
Chronic Kidney Disease I: Introduction
The Effect of Aging on Tissues
Kidney Structure
Internal Anatomy of the Kidney
Anatomical Position and Dimensions
The kidneys are retroperitoneal organs positioned against the posterior abdominal wall on either side of the spine, roughly between the twelfth thoracic and third lumbar vertebrae. Each kidney is typically 10-12 cm long, 5-6 cm wide, and 3-4 cm thick, weighing about 150 grams.
Renal Cortex
The outermost region of the kidney is the...
Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention

