Metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease likely increases risk of dementia

1. Vascular dementia may be increased by metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), liver fibrosis, and cirrhosis.

Evidence Rating Level: 1 (Excellent)

Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) which is replacing the term non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of fat in the liver tissue not due to excessive alcohol use. MASLD is associated with the presence of obesity, and abnormal metabolism of blood lipids along with glucose thus also being a strong risk factor for diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Given the association of other metabolic conditions such as diabetes being associated with dementia, it has been hypothesized that MASLD may be additionally associated with dementia risk. In this study, researchers utilized from the Genome wide association study (GWAS) to understand the connection between MASLD-related diseases and cognitive performance.  A causal relationship was found between MASLD and vascular dementia (VD) (p of IVW=0.020, OR=1.660, 95% CI = 1.082-2.546) via mendelian randomization analysis. The results also suggested a positive causal relationship between liver fibrosis and cirrhosis (p of IVW = 0.009, OR=1.849, 95% CI = 1.169-2.922) with VD. Study findings suggest that MASLD-associated diseases were correlated with VD only and no other dementia types, though it was not possible to determine if there was a causal relationship between MASLD-related diseases and cognitive function. Overall, genetically predicted MASLD, liver fibrosis, and cirrhosis may lead to an increased risk of VD.

Click to read the study in PLOSONE

Image: PD

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