Yan Zhao

ABSTRACT

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasingly recognized as a systemic disorder that extends beyond renal dysfunction, influencing neurological health through disturbances in the gut–kidney–brain axis. Alterations in intestinal microbial communities promote the accumulation of uremic toxins, systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction, all of which may compromise cerebrovascular integrity. Aging further amplifies these pathological mechanisms, increasing susceptibility to cerebral microvascular injury. This review examines age-related differences in gut microbiota alterations and their association with brain microhemorrhages in experimental models of CKD.