First International meeting on Brain-Kidney interaction

Brain dysfunction is highly prevalent in the population. However, patients suffering from kidney disease have an even greater risk for brain dysfunction, compared to the remaining population. Unfortunately, the pathogenesis of brain-kidney dysfunction remains elusive. Neuropsychological and brain imaging data are now starting to be gathered, thereby characterizing this pathological entity.
 Data from animal and cellular models suggest several mechanisms and possible avenues for future interventions: mono-aminergic systems, glymphatics, neural stem cells are among the neural structures vulnerable to uremic toxins and, in turn, responsible for the cognitive dysfunctions in chronic kidney disease and dialysis patients. Because kidney function can be replaced by artificial systems (dialysis) or renal transplantation, there is hope that this specific form of cognitive impairment might be prevented or even cured. Furthermore, the comprehension of brain-kidney interaction could disclose our understanding of other neurological diseases. This first meeting on brain-kidney axis will join renowned international speakers from different fields aiming at unraveling the mechanisms and future therapeutic options for this new clinical entity. The character of this meeting will insist on the interdisciplinary interaction among speakers (neurologists, nephrologists, neuroscientists, epidemiologists, renal physiologists, geriatricians, experts in regenerative medicine, precision medicine, imaging and diagnostics).
 Finally, the meeting is very keen to enable young renal and neuroscience scientists to submit their excellent researches that will be discussed in two very highlighted poster sessions.

Giovambattista Capasso