Liver Condition Triggers Dementia-Like Confusion

A severe liver condition, autoimmune hepatitis, was initially mistaken for dementia in Jackie Little, a 53-year-old council business manager. She experienced profound confusion, wandering at night and failing to recognize loved ones, leading her family to take extreme safety measures. This rare complication arises when liver damage prevents toxin filtering, affecting the brain and causing hepatic encephalopathy.

Jackie's autoimmune hepatitis, a condition affecting 10,000 people in the UK, was diagnosed after initially being misidentified as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Corticosteroids like prednisolone can manage the condition, but left untreated, it can lead to serious issues. Jackie's symptoms escalated significantly in 2023, prompting doctors to place her on the liver transplant list.

In April, Jackie underwent a successful liver transplant at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. She reported an immediate return of clarity, describing the experience as recovering from dementia. While she will require lifelong medication to prevent organ rejection, the confusion has subsided, allowing her and her family to return to normal life.