Association of liver fibrosis with cognitive test performance and brain imaging parameters in the UK Biobank study.

Publication Type	Academic Article
Authors	Parikh N, Kamel H, Zhang C, Gupta A, Cohen D, de Leon M, Gottesman R, Iadecola C
Journal	Alzheimers Dement
Volume	19
Issue	4
Pagination	1518-1528
Date Published	09/23/2022
ISSN	1552-5279
Keywords	White Matter, Cognitive Dysfunction
Abstract	INTRODUCTION: We hypothesized that liver fibrosis is associated with worse cognitive performance and corresponding brain imaging changes. METHODS: We examined the association of liver fibrosis with cognition and brain imaging parameters in the UK Biobank study. Liver fibrosis was assessed using the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score. The primary cognitive outcome was the digit symbol substitution test (DSST); secondary outcomes were additional executive function/processing speed and memory tests. Imaging outcomes were hippocampal, total brain, and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes. RESULTS: We included 105,313 participants with cognitive test data, and 41,982 with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In adjusted models, liver fibrosis was associated with worse performance on the DSST and tests of executive function but not memory. Liver fibrosis was associated with lower hippocampal and total brain volumes, without compelling association with WMH volume. DISCUSSION: Liver fibrosis is associated with worse performance on select cognitive tests and lower hippocampal and total brain volumes. HIGHLIGHTS: It is increasingly recognized that chronic liver conditions impact brain health. We performed an analysis of data from the UK Biobank prospective cohort study. Liver fibrosis was associated with worse performance on executive function tests. Liver fibrosis was not associated with memory impairment. Liver fibrosis was associated with lower hippocampal and total brain volumes.
DOI	10.1002/alz.12795
PubMed ID	36149265
PubMed Central ID	PMC10033462