Central Executive Network Alterations in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients with Cognitive Decline

Motivation: Cognitive impairment (CI) poses a significant challenge in end-stage renal disease (ESRD), with early detection being particularly difficult. Goal(s): To investigate central executive network attributes related to subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in ESRD. Approach: The study examined 43 ESRD patients with mild CI, 37 with SCD, 36 with normal cognition, and 51 healthy controls using MR scanning and graph theory. Results: σ and Eg metrics were higher in mild CI than controls. Ne was lower in SCD compared to mild CI. σ and Eg were negatively correlated with MoCA scores. Impact: This study uncovered the neuropathological mechanism behind SCD in patients with ESRD, potentially facilitating ultra-early diagnosis of CI in these patients and guiding early clinical intervention.