Effects of mild cognitive impairment and disorders of mineral metabolism on structural changes of brain in hemodialysis patients

Motivation: Brain damage in end-stage renal disease patients with mild cognitive impairment (ESRD-MCI) has not yet been elucidated. Goal(s): Our goal was to determine the characteristics of alterations in gray matter (GM) structure and the neurobiological mechanisms in ESRD-MCI patients. Approach: We utilized voxel-based morphology to analyze GM volume alterations in ESRD-MCI patients. Results: Results demonstrated that MCI in ESRD patients was predominantly impaired in the left middle temporal gyrus, completely mediating the effect of serum phosphorus on MCI. Impact: Our demonstration of a detectable volume decline in the left middle temporal gyrus utilizing structural MRI provides a quantitative metric to be utilized within clinical therapy trials for intervention of MCI in ESRD patients.