A study suggests up to 13% of dementia diagnoses in the US may be misdiagnoses, with some cases actually caused by treatable liver-related conditions like hepatic encephalopathy, highlighting the importance of liver health screening in cognitive decline cases.
A new study suggests that up to 13% of dementia cases in the US may be misdiagnosed and are actually treatable conditions like hepatic encephalopathy, a cognitive impairment caused by liver failure. This highlights the importance of screening for liver health to potentially reverse cognitive decline.
A recent study of US veterans found that 10% of those diagnosed with dementia actually had a liver condition called hepatic encephalopathy (HE), which is a treatable condition. Liver damage can lead to HE, causing symptoms similar to dementia. The study suggests that around 10% of people diagnosed with dementia may instead have underlying silent liver disease with HE causing or contributing to the symptoms, highlighting the importance of checking for liver disease in people with general symptoms of dementia.
New research suggests that some patients diagnosed with dementia may actually have advanced liver disease causing cognitive changes, with up to 10% of dementia patients potentially having undiagnosed liver disease. Hepatic encephalopathy, caused by liver dysfunction, can mimic dementia symptoms but is treatable and reversible with medication. It's important for healthcare providers to consider liver disease as a potential cause of cognitive decline, especially in patients under 65 and those with known liver problems.
A study suggests that up to 10% of dementia patients may actually have undiagnosed liver disease, particularly cirrhosis, leading to neurological symptoms that mimic dementia but are reversible with treatment. The study, conducted by Veterans Affairs doctors, found that the FIB-4 score could be a useful screening tool for identifying potential liver damage in dementia patients. The link between liver disease and dementia highlights the need for improved screening and diagnosis to ensure that reversible causes of brain issues are not overlooked.