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

<div><p>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, <i>P</i> < 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.</p></div

Time-dependent changes in oxygenated hemoglobin concentration in response to a verbal fluency task in NAFLD patients (red) and healthy controls (blue).

<p>Time-dependent changes in oxygenated hemoglobin concentration in response to a verbal fluency task in NAFLD patients (red) and healthy controls (blue).</p

Topographic images of the differences in mean of oxygenated hemoglobin changes between NAFLD patients and healthy controls.

<p>Red circles indicate the channels that were significantly smaller in NAFLD patients compared to healthy controls.</p

Location of the 52-channel Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) probes in the right temporal, frontal, and left temporal brain regions.

<p>Location of the 52-channel Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) probes in the right temporal, frontal, and left temporal brain regions.</p