Lipids & metabolic liver disease
Association of metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease with white matter hyperintensity and cognitive decline: A longitudinal cohort study
Main finding · White matter hyperintensity (WMH)Result — go to the resultRelative risk 1.35 95% CI 1.09–1.66Authors' conclusion
MAFLD was associated with an increased risk of WMH over 4.1 years in middle-aged adults. The hepatic steatosis itself was independently associated with an increased risk of WMH regardless of comorbid metabolic abnormalities. The degree of hepatic steatosis was associated with decreased executive function, especially in non-obese individuals.
Study context
- Population
- Participants of the Ansan cohort of the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study with baseline and 4-year follow-up brain MRI and neuropsychological measures; middle-aged adults
- Participants
- 2,155 participants
- Exposure
- MAFLD vs no MAFLD
- Outcome
- White matter hyperintensity (WMH)
- Follow-up
- Median 4.1 years
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Relative risk
1.35
95% CI 1.09–1.66
P = 0.006
MAFLDvs No MAFLD
RR 1.35 (95% CI 1.09–1.66); P = 0.006
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Brain volume changes
- MAFLD not associated with brain volume changes
White matter hyperintensity (WMH) by individual MAFLD components
- Hepatic steatosis independently associated with WMH risk regardless of metabolic derangements
Executive function Z score decline by liver attenuation index (LAI)
- Lower LAI values linearly associated with greater executive function Z score decline
- P = 0.007
- More evident in non-obese (BMI <25 kg/m²)
- P for interaction = 0.003
Original publication
Association of metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease with white matter hyperintensity and cognitive decline: A longitudinal cohort study. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 6 February 2025. doi:10.
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