Cognition in liver disease.
BACKGROUND
Cognitive dysfunction has been observed in a range of liver diseases including chronic hepatitis C virus, alcoholic liver disease, primary biliary cirrhosis and Wilson's disease. Such dysfunction may range from mild cognitive changes to overt hepatic encephalopathy, and represents a significant complication of liver disease that may negatively impact the patient's quality of life, and normal activities of daily living (e.g., driving).


METHODS
This article reviews the published evidence relating to cognitive dysfunction in liver disease.


RESULTS
Issues of definition, diagnosis, epidemiology, aetiology, treatment and outcome are discussed. Particular attention is devoted to identifying the mild cognitive changes that occur in liver diseases of different aetiology.
Collie
Alexander
A
Centre for Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia. acollie@unimelb.edu.au
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009656:North America; D011788:Quality of Life