Cognitive Dysfunction in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Current Knowledge, Mechanisms and Perspectives

Overview

Journal J Clin Med

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2021 Feb 12

PMID 33572481

Citations 35

Authors

Kristoffer Kjaergaard

Anne Catrine Daugaard Mikkelsen

Charlotte Wilhelmina Wernberg

Lea Ladegaard Gronkjaer

Peter Lykke Eriksen

Malene Flensborg Damholdt

Rajeshwar Prosad Mookerjee

Hendrik Vilstrup

Mette Munk Lauridsen

Karen Louise Thomsen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as the hepatic component of the metabolic syndrome and now seemingly affects one-fourth of the world population. Features associated with NAFLD and the metabolic syndrome have frequently been linked to cognitive dysfunction, i.e. systemic inflammation, vascular dysfunction, and sleep apnoea. However, emerging evidence suggests that NAFLD may be a cause of cognitive dysfunction independent of these factors. NAFLD in addition exhibits dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and impaired urea cycle function, favouring systemic ammonia accumulation and further promotes systemic inflammation. Such disruption of the gut-liver-brain axis is essential in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy, the neuropsychiatric syndrome associated with progressive liver disease. Considering the growing burden of NAFLD, the morbidity from cognitive impairment is expected to have huge societal and economic impact. The present paper provides a review of the available evidence for cognitive dysfunction in NAFLD and outlines its possible mechanisms. Moreover, the clinical challenges of characterizing and diagnosing cognitive dysfunction in NAFLD are discussed.

Citing Articles

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