A New Study Uncovered A Link Between Liver Fibrosis And Cognitive Decline, Underscoring The Crucial Relationship Between Physical And Mental Health
An increasing number of scientific findings are underscoring the fact that the well-being of our brains is intricately linked to our overall physical health.
“More and more, folks are starting to realize that there’s not this split between brain-based disorders and other types of physical health,” said Dustin Scheinost, an associate professor of radiology and biomedical imaging from Yale University.
“We’re starting to understand that liver disease, heart disease, and other diseases will have impacts on the brain, and brain disorders have impacts on the body.”
Scheinost recently led a research team as they explored deeper into this realm, conducting a study that analyzed how liver fibrosis is linked to cognitive decline.
The team took advantage of the extensive data available from the UK Biobank, which contains health records of more than 500,000 adults, to delve into the potential effects of liver fibrosis on brain health. This rich dataset allowed the team to investigate a representative cross-section of the population and reveal relationships that may not be evident in smaller studies.
The team scrutinized data on liver fibrosis, cognitive performance (including working memory, problem-solving ability, and processing speed), and grey matter volume in various brain regions.
They discovered that individuals with liver fibrosis exhibited lower cognitive abilities and reduced grey matter volume in several parts of the brain, such as the hippocampus, thalamus, striatum, and brain stem, compared to those without liver disease.
Rongtao Jiang, the study’s lead author and a postdoctoral associate in Scheinost’s lab, pointed out that they found a marked negative relationship between liver fibrosis and numerous cognitive functions, including working memory, prospective memory, and processing speed.
While the study design couldn’t pinpoint cause and effect, it allowed the researchers to explore potential factors mediating the observed link between liver disease and brain health.
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Chronic inflammation related to liver disease has been hinted at in a few studies as potentially impacting the brain.
In this study, the team used C-reactive protein, a molecule indicating systemic inflammation, to investigate if inflammation might underpin the observed link between liver fibrosis, cognition, and brain structure. They found participants with liver fibrosis had elevated C-reactive protein levels, suggesting inflammation could partly explain the observed connection between the liver and brain.
Jiang emphasized the importance of early monitoring, given that liver fibrosis in its initial stages can be reversed.
“Early-stage liver fibrosis is a reversible syndrome, and our current study suggests that early surveillance and prevention of liver disease may reduce cognitive decline and brain volume loss,” Jiang explained.
“And since we found a mediating effect of systemic inflammation, it may tell us that drugs or interventions that target inflammation may help us prevent the disease burden of liver fibrosis.”
The study’s findings also indicate that preventative measures against liver disease could potentially slow down the advancement of diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, noted Qinghao Liang, a Ph.D. candidate in Scheinost’s lab and co-author of the study.
Previous research has established a connection between liver disease and Alzheimer’s, as the liver is responsible for clearing the amyloid-beta deposits associated with Alzheimer’s. Any dysfunction in the liver could thus result in the buildup of these deposits in the brain.
This study further bolsters the evidence supporting the interconnectedness of the brain and body, according to Scheinost. The findings underscore the importance of holistic care for overall well-being, as addressing one aspect of health can have cascading effects and benefits.
“In some ways, it’s about taking care of yourself as a whole. Any piece of the puzzle you can address is probably going to have other downstream effects and benefits,” Scheinost concluded.
To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in eBioMedicine, visit the link here.
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