Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) not only disrupts liver function, but also triggers complex extrahepatic metabolic processes. It is known to effect brain and cause visual spatial impairment and executive function damage. However, there is scarcity of evidence on the association of NAFLD with iron metabolism and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in adults aged over 60 years. The soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), serum iron (SI), serum ferritin (SF), transferrin (TRF) and hemoglobin (HB) are indicators of iron metabolism. The current study is aimed to investigate the interrelationship of iron metabolism with cognitive impairment in older individuals.

The cross-sectional study included individuals with NAFLD aged over 60 years, with no history of excessive alcohol consumption and stroke or dementia. Their cognitive function was determined by the same neurologist. The hippocampus of the enrolled older patients was examined by 3.0T H proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS). Data was further analyzed by t test and Chi-square test. The association was assessed by binary logistic regression.

The outcome demonstrated that psychiatrist identified 54% of participants with MCI. Moreover, MCI was found to be remarkably correlated with higher sTfR, after adjustment of all the covariates. No evidence of any statistically relevant association was found between MCI and age or blood glucose or choline (Cho) /creatine (Cr) of the right hippocampus head.

The findings observed conclude that a positive association exist between increased age and low levels of sTfR and HB with MCI in older individuals affected with NAFLD.

Source: Xu J, Sun W, Yang L. Association between iron metabolism and cognitive impairment in older non-alcoholic fatty liver disease individuals: A cross-sectional study in patients from a Chinese center. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(48):e18189.