Attention, memory, and cognitive function in hepatic encephalopathy

• Published in: Metabolic brain disease Vol. 20; no. 4; pp. 359 - 367
• Main Authors: WEISSENBORN, Karin, GIEWEKEMEYER, Kathrin, HEIDENREICH, Susanne, BOKEMEYER, Martin, BERDING, Georg, AHL, Björn
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer 01-12-2005; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Animals; Attention - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition - physiology; Disorders of higher nervous function. Focal brain diseases. Central vestibular syndrome and deafness. Brain stem syndromes; Emergency and intensive cardiocirculatory care. Cardiogenic shock. Coronary intensive care; Hepatic Encephalopathy - psychology; Humans; Intensive care medicine; Medical sciences; Memory - physiology; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Nervous system diseases; Encephalopathy; Liver; Memory; Central nervous system disease; Attention; hepatic encephalopathy; Cerebral disorder
• ISSN: 0885-7490; 1573-7365
• DOI: 10.1007/s11011-005-7919-z

Deficits in attention and arousal play a major role in the clinical presentation of hepatic encephalopathy. Attention deficits are also the main components of minimal hepatic encephalopathy. The present paper summarizes some findings about attentional and memory dysfunction in hepatic encephalopathy, with reference to basic knowledge about normal attention and memory function and their cerebral representation.