Study finds undiagnosed liver disease, not dementia, linked to cognitive decline in some patients with dementia symptoms.

A study led by Virginia Commonwealth University suggests that a significant percentage of individuals suffering from cognitive decline may have undiagnosed liver disease, not dementia. The research analyzed 177,000 patients with symptoms of dementia over a decade and found that approximately 1 in 10 patients had undiagnosed cirrhosis or liver scarring. The authors emphasize the importance of considering liver disease in patients with dementia symptoms, as liver disease has long been linked to brain dysfunction. When cirrhosis causes mental decline, it is known as hepatic encephalopathy (H.E. ), a condition that occurs when toxins, usually cleared by the liver, travel to the brain, causing confusion or delirium. If left untreated, patients may fall into a coma or die. H.E. can be treated with relative ease, often through prescription of a laxative or antibiotic. However, liver disease is often undetected until advanced stages.

January 31, 2024
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