Hepatic Encephalopathy
Patients with cirrhosis for a long time may notice something different in how they act, behave, and feel. They may also feel confused, forgetful, and have difficulty speaking clearly. These changes in personality and behavior may be attributed to a disorder called hepatic encephalopathy caused by the build-up of toxins in the brain.
Hepatic encephalopathy is common among patients with chronic cirrhosis and other liver-related diseases. When the liver no longer functions properly, it fails to filter the blood. The unfiltered toxins could reach the brain and cause mental dysfunctions and personality changes. The changes in behavior vary from one patient to another. Sometimes the changes are so mild and can go unnoticed. Some patients, on the other hand, experience drastic and unsettling changes.
Although almost 60% of patients with cirrhosis reported experiencing personality changes, the available scientific data is still insufficient to determine the relationship between the severity of the liver disease and the changes in the patient’s behavior.
