A recent study on US veterans revealed that 10% of those diagnosed with dementia actually had a treatable liver condition called hepatic encephalopathy (HE).
HE occurs when the liver, damaged by factors like alcohol or hepatitis, fails to detoxify the blood, leading to ammonia buildup in the brain and cognitive impairment. While the symptoms overlap with dementia, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial.
The study, analyzing veterans’ medical records, suggests a potential link between silent liver disease and dementia misdiagnosis, highlighting the importance of screening for liver conditions in dementia cases for proper management and treatment.