Increased serum methylmalonic acid levels were associated with the presence of cognitive dysfunction in older chronic kidney disease patients with albuminuria

BMC Geriatr. 2024 Feb 15;24(1):159. doi: 10.1186/s12877-024-04759-y.

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between serum methylmalonic acid (MMA) levels and cognition function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we included 537 CKD individuals aged ≥ 60-year-old with albuminuria from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014. Four cognitive tests including the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) Delayed Recall and Word Learning tests, and the Animal Fluency test (AF) were performed. Associations between MMA and cognition scores were assessed with linear regression models.

Results: MMA level was negatively associated with residual renal function and nutrition status. After multivariate adjustment, elevated serum MMA levels were independently correlated with decline of cognition in CKD patients with albuminuria.

Conclusion: Our study showed that higher serum MMA levels were independently associated with the presence of cognition dysfunction in CKD patients. The exact pathogenesis of MMA and cognition needs further research.

Keywords: Albuminuria; Chronic kidney disease; Cognition impairment; Methylmalonic acid; Older adults.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Albuminuria / complications
  • Albuminuria / diagnosis
  • Cognition
  • Cognitive Dysfunction* / diagnosis
  • Cognitive Dysfunction* / etiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Methylmalonic Acid
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* / complications
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* / diagnosis

Substances

  • Methylmalonic Acid