CONFERENCEThe impact of uremic toxins on cognitive impairment: investigating the pathophysiology of mild cognitive impairment in chronic kidney disease
The goal: The multidisciplinary MOMENTUM project aims to integrate clinical, mechanistic and patient-centered perspectives to elucidate the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment in chronic kidney disease (MCI-CKD), with a particular focus on uremic toxins (UTs), and to identify reliable biomarkers for the diagnosis and progression of MCI-CKD.
Summary: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health priority affecting 850 million people worldwide, and up to 60% of them have cognitive impairment. Mild cognitive impairment in CKD (MCI-CKD), despite its high risk of progression to dementia, is under-recognized, under-studied and poorly managed. The underlying mechanisms and root causes of MCI-CKD remain poorly understood, hindering early diagnosis and effective interventions. The multidisciplinary MOMENTUM project will integrate clinical, mechanistic and patient-centered perspectives to address these unmet needs by elucidating the pathophysiology of MCI-CKD, with a particular focus on uremic toxins (UTs), and identifying reliable biomarkers for the diagnosis and progression of MCI-CKD. The objectives of MOMENTUM are to: (i) investigate the relationship between circulating UT levels, cognitive impairment, and brain changes in MCI-HSN using a multicenter cross-sectional and longitudinal study; (ii) assess blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity in vitro and ex vivo, linking UT activity and ABB damage to brain dysfunction; (iii) establish causal relationships between UT exposure, brain injury, and neurocognitive outcomes in zebrafish and mouse models of HSN using mechanistic analyses not possible in humans; (iv) investigate the role of the gut microbiome in BBB disruption and cognitive decline; (v) address ethical, legal, and social issues and promote the active engagement of patients with MCI-HSN, clinicians, and other stakeholders. MOMENTUM will enable the first comprehensive characterization of MCI-HSN, generating actionable knowledge to improve clinical outcomes. This will enable and inform improvements in clinical care for patients, aligning them with EU priorities for improving the sustainability and quality of healthcare. MOMENTUM will ultimately create new opportunities for early diagnosis and targeted interventions for MCI-HSN, bringing significant benefits to patients, carers and healthcare systems.
Program: Horizon Europe
Project ID No: 101286954 (MOMENTUM)
Project duration: 01.06.2026. – 31.05.2030.
Project total funding(Part of LU): 245 000,00 EUR
Project scientific manager: Dr.sc.soc. Signe Mežinska
More information: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101286954
Funding:
This project MOMENTUM has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon research and innovation programme Horizon Europe under grant agreement No 101286954. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor European Health and Digital Executive Agency can be held responsible for them.
