Urine Protein Test Can Predict Dementia Risk

Increasingly, research suggests that diseases in other organs, such as the kidneys, may play a role in its development. Identifying markers that link kidney health to brain function could provide an early warning for cognitive decline. Now, a new study has shown that a common protein found in urine may indicate an increased risk of developing dementia later in life.

The study, conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet (Stockholm, Sweden), investigated the role of albuminuria—an abnormal condition where the protein albumin leaks into urine. Normally, healthy kidneys filter waste products while keeping essential proteins like albumin in the blood. Elevated albumin levels indicate kidney damage and, according to this research, may also reflect vascular changes that predispose individuals to dementia.

Researchers followed 130,000 adults aged over 65 in Stockholm who were free of dementia at baseline. Over four years, 7 percent developed dementia. After adjusting for kidney function and other health factors, results showed that those with moderate albuminuria (30–299 mg/g) had a 25 percent higher risk of dementia, while those with high levels (≥300 mg/g) had a 37 percent greater risk compared to participants with normal albumin levels.

The association was particularly strong for vascular dementia, often caused by stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, or vascular disease, and for mixed dementia, which combines vascular and Alzheimer’s features. The findings, published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, highlight how kidney dysfunction may mirror damage in the brain’s small vessels, influencing the blood-brain barrier and increasing the risk of harmful protein buildup linked to dementia.

The study underscores the potential of routine screening for albuminuria in older adults and in patients with conditions like hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or kidney disease. Detecting the condition early could allow for preventive interventions to reduce or delay dementia onset. Researchers suggest integrating this simple urine test into dementia risk assessments to improve outcomes and reduce disease burden.

"These results underscore the importance of routine screening for albuminuria as part of early dementia risk assessment, especially in patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or kidney disease,” said Hong Xu, assistant professor at Karolinska Institutet and last author of the study. “Early detection of albuminuria could potentially delay or prevent the onset of dementia."

Related Links:
Karolinska Institutet