As Age of the world populationMany of us are facing cognitive decline in ourselves or our loved ones. 10 million new infections The number of people with dementia is increasing every year around the world.
But a new study suggests that up to 13 percent of people diagnosed with dementia in the United States may be misdiagnosed and suffer from treatable conditions.
“Health care workers [must be] It is important to recognize the potential overlap between dementia and hepatic encephalopathy and keep it treatable.” state Jasmohan Bajaj, a liver specialist at Virginia State University.
Hepatic encephalopathy Cognitive impairment due to liver failure – affects more than 40% of patients with advanced liver disease (CirrhosisThe brain damage this causes is difficult to distinguish from dementia.
Our liver is It regulates the levels of most chemicals in the body, from filtering chemicals from the blood to aiding in digestion.
well known Alcohol damage to the liverOther risks to the liver include hepatitis. virushigh cholesterol, obesity, Diabetesstress, aging, etc. However, if detected early and treated appropriately, damage to the liver is reversible.
Many of these can be alleviated through dietary and behavioral changes, but Potential drug treatments on the horizon as well.
Indeed, treatment of hepatic encephalopathy improved cognitive impairment. At least two patients He was diagnosed with dementia.
“He’s a different person!” says the patient’s wife. NoteAfterwards, all symptoms including memory loss, falls, tremors and hallucinations disappeared.
Recent Research Studies in mice suggest that the effects of ageing on the liver may also be reversible if detected early.
“We now know that aging worsens non-alcoholic liver disease… and by reducing this effect, we can reverse the damage.” explain “It’s never too late to get healthy,” says Anna Mae, a liver specialist at Duke University.
So Earlier this yearBajaj and his colleagues looked at the medical records of 177,422 U.S. veterans who were diagnosed with dementia between 2009 and 2019.
Although none of them had been diagnosed with liver disease, the team found that more than 10 percent had an elevated fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score, a measure of scarring in the liver. They were significantly more likely to develop cirrhosis.
In the new study, biostatistician Scott Silvey of Virginia Commonwealth University, Bajaj, and colleagues repeated the survey using 68,807 medical records from a national database of non-veteran patients to examine whether the previous results reflect the general U.S. population.
Surprisingly, there were even more patients with high FIB-4 scores in this population, about 13 percent.
“The prevalence and determinants of high FIB-4 were surprising, including a high proportion of non-white patients in the high FIB-4 group.” explain Sylvie and team.
“While we did not look at the specific factors behind these disparities, it is possible that lack of access to treatment and healthcare, both in dementia care and comorbidity care, plays a role.”
When the liver fails, Stressing other organisations Our bodies contain many nutrients, including the kidneys, pancreas, heart, and brain. Prioritize Liver Health.
“This significant association between dementia and liver health highlights the importance of screening patients for potentially treatable factors that may contribute to cognitive decline.” Conclusion Bajaj.
This study American Journal of Medicine.
