Figure 1.

This schematic illustrates the how ESKD patients on hemodialysis may be at risk for cerebral hypoperfusion and subsequent cognitive impairment. ESKD patients have risk factors that contribute to vascular disease and lead to impaired cerebral autoregulation. Pairing this vascular disease with the hemodynamic stress of HD may result in cerebral hypoperfusion during an HD session. Cerebral hypoperfusion may cause cerebral cellular damage and subsequent cognitive impairment. Ca/Phos, calcium/phosphate; DM, diabetes mellitus; HTN, hypertension.