Reduced brain activity in female patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease as measured by near-infrared spectroscopy

Abstract

Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have impaired health-related quality of life including physical and mental state. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a useful tool for evaluation of brain activity and depressive state. This study aimed to determine the brain activity of female NAFLD patients using NIRS. Cerebral oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentration during a verbal fluency task (VFT) was measured using NIRS in 24 female NAFLD patients and 15 female healthy controls. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) questionnaire was administered to both groups before NIRS. There was no significant difference in CES-D score between groups. However, the oxy-Hb concentration and number of words during the VFT were less in NAFLD compared to healthy controls. The mean value of oxy-Hb concentration during 0–60 s VFT in the frontal lobe was also smaller in NAFLD patients compared to healthy controls (0.082 ± 0.126 vs. 0.183 ± 0.145, P < 0.001). Cerebral oxygen concentration is poorly reactive in response to VFT in female NAFLD patients. This may indicate an association between decreased brain activity and NAFLD regardless of depression.

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis score and cognitive function in middle‐aged adults: The Framingham Study

“…cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity) and possibly also common pathophysiological mechanisms, including inflammation and endothelial dysfunction . Recently, NAFLD has been linked with poor cognitive function and with decreased brain activity . In addition, a study from our group has demonstrated an association between NAFLD and low total cerebral brain volume independently of multiple cardio‐metabolic factors, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and visceral fat .…”

“…2 Recently, NAFLD has been linked with poor cognitive function 3 and with decreased brain activity. 4 In addition, a study from our group has demonstrated an association between NAFLD and low total cerebral brain volume independently of multiple cardio-metabolic factors, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and visceral fat. 5 These findings are important since NAFLD prevalence is high, with estimations of around 30% in the general population and 80% among the morbidly obese.…”

Autoimmune hepatitis, fatty liver, and Fukushima

“…In fact, cognitive behavioral therapy had been shown to be useful 25) , and one epidemiologic study revealed a decline in cognition in patients with NAFLD 26) . Moreover, we previously reported reduced brain activity, as measured by nearinfrared spectroscopy, in female patients with NAFLD 27) . AIH, fatty liver, and Fukushima Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is the most famous sleep disorder in NAFLD 28) .…”

Near‐Infrared Spectroscopy Reveals Brain Hypoxia and Cerebrovascular Dysregulation in Primary Biliary Cholangitis

“…Using NIRS, reduced task‐induced O 2 Hb and HHb responses have been observed in several disorders, including depression and mild cognitive impairment . Of particular interest, using NIRS, one group reported decreased frontal lobe oxygenation during a verbal fluency task in patients with ulcerative colitis as well as in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease but not in patients with Crohn's disease . The authors attributed these findings to altered brain activity, although it is difficult to delineate altered brain activity from altered neurovascular coupling in patients with potential cerebrovascular dysfunction …”

“…(14) Of particular interest, using NIRS, one group reported decreased frontal lobe oxygenation during a verbal fluency task in patients with ulcerative colitis as well as in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease but not in patients with Crohn's disease. (31,32) The authors attributed these findings to altered brain activity, although it is difficult to delineate altered brain activity from altered neurovascular coupling in patients with potential cerebrovascular dysfunction. (8) To gain a greater understanding of how chronic immune-mediated liver inflammation impacts the brain of patients with PBC, we applied a time-frequency (coherence) analysis in conjunction with quantitative measures of hemoglobin concentration and oxygen saturation.…”