Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is important cause of hepatic morbidity worldwide. Recently, a significant association between NAFLD and Cognitive dysfunction has been observed.
Objectives: To evaluate the association between NAFLD in patientswith or without chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and cognitive impairment.
Patients and methods: The study included 100 NAFLD participants diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound according to guidelines for the diagnosis and management of non -alcoholic fatty liver disease; 50 of them chronically infected with HCV (Group I) and another 50 patients without chronic HCV infection (Group II). Assessment of cognitive functions was done by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Trail Making Test (TMT) (part A and B). Socioeconomic Status assessed by socioeconomic status scale. Magnetic resonant imaging of the brain to calculate periventricular white matter hyperintensities.
Results: 16% of Group I patients were deficient in Trail-A, Trail-B, and MoCA, while 18% of group II patients were deficient in Trail-A, Trail-B, and MoCA. There is a statistically significant negative correlation between body mass index (BMI) and MoCA(r = - 0.0243, p-value = 0.015) and a significant positive correlation between BMI and Trail A(r = 0.276, p-value = 0.048). Based on the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis, hypertriglyceridemia, and periventricular white matter hyperintensities were predictive for cognitive impairment.
Conclusion: NAFLD, Increased BMI and Hypertriglyceridemia showed significant associations with cognitive dysfunction.