Current status of salt‒related cognitive impairment in hemodialysis patients and the improvements brought about by swallowing exercises and salivary gland massages

We examined the saltiness sensitivity of 128 hemodialysis patients who underwent outpatient maintenance dialysis at our facility and 30 healthy subjects using salt‒impregnated filter paper with various salt concentrations. All of the healthy subjects exhibited normal salt taste recognition, but 42 (32.8％) hemodialysis patients (16 and 26 with moderate and severe salt taste recognition disorder, respectively) were judged to have salt‒related cognitive impairment. Twenty‒one of the patients with salt‒related cognitive impairment were subjected to swallowing exercises and salivary gland massages for 10 minutes before each dialysis session, and 11 (52.4％) demonstrated improved to normal salt taste recognition one month later, and 15 (71.4％) did so 3 months later. However, there were no significant changes in weight gain during dialysis or salt intake in these patients.