Medical researchers have known for a long time that kidney disease can lead to renal failure. In one of the first studies to examine the overall impact of kidney disease, researchers from Temple University, University of Maryland and University of Maine have found that kidney disease has a significant impact on cognitive function and memory.
Beyond Renal Failure
According to study, published in the professional medical journal, Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, kidney disease has far-reaching effects on the body. Researchers examined the neurological effects of long term kidney disease. Similar to the impact of high blood pressure, kidney disease impacts both the circulatory and neurological systems.
As a result, over time, individuals with kidney disease experience decreased cognitive abilities. They may experience compromised memory, verbal abilities and abstract thinking abilities. Although the impact of kidney disease on cognitive abilities is not as substantial as dementia, the long term cognitive effects of the illness are significant.
Prevention Measures Today
One of the most significant contributors to developing kidney disease is consuming large amounts of diet soda. Although many people believe they are making a good choice when they consume diet soda instead of regular soda, the fact is that drinking more than two sodas daily can result in a decline in kidney function of 30 percent or higher.
Additionally, most diet sodas contain aspartame, which is highly associated with degenerative neurological illnesses and seizures. Additionally, aspartame is also connected with obesity and development of type 2 diabetes.
Instead of drinking diet sodas, a healthier choice is plain water. Other preventive measures include regular exercise and maintaining healthy weight levels. Eating a diet rich in green leafy vegetables and brightly colored antioxidant-rich foods can also contribute to healthy kidney function.
While it can be tempting to believe that contemporary medicine will be able to solve all of our health problems with a pill later on in life, avoiding kidney disease in the first place is the best and healthiest approach.
– The Alternative Daily
