Aging and the kidney

Abstract

The kidney undergoes functional and structural changes during the aging process. The factors influencing these changes are currently under active investigation. The renal functional reserve is diminished in the elderly predisposing these individuals to the development of acute kidney injury when the balance of vasconstrictive and vasodilatory hormones are altered, particularly with medications. The development of acute kidney injury in the elderly portends a negative prognosis for the recovery of renal function. The management of end stage renal disease in the elderly is also a topic of intense discussion and clinical investigation. In this review, we explore the mechanisms responsible for the aging of the kidney. We also summarize the renal hemodynamic changes, urine and concentration and dilution alterations, and the changes in sodium and potassium metabolism associated with aging. The role and the consequences of dialysis treatment in the elderly are also explored in this review article.