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The University of Valencia (UV) and the Raminatrans Foundation have signed a sponsorship agreement under which the private entity will contribute €12,000 to support the project Study of Cognitive and Functional Impairment in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis. Liver cirrhosis causes approximately 170,000 deaths annually in Europe, accounting for 1.8% of all deaths. The study is being conducted by the Grup d’Investigació de Deteriorament Neurològic at the UV, led by Carmina Montoliu, professor in the Department of Pathology.
The agreement advances the characterisation of neurological disorders associated with chronic liver diseases, such as cirrhosis and fatty liver disease, and deepens understanding of the mechanisms that cause them. The research group holds three international patents and has published more than 170 papers in leading international scientific journals.
Specifically, the project will evaluate new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures aimed at improving early detection of these complications. Early diagnosis would significantly enhance the quality of life of people affected by liver cirrhosis, which the World Health Organization identifies as the leading cause of mortality associated with liver disease.
Currently, there is no simple and accurate method for diagnosing minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), a mild form of cognitive and functional impairment. Diagnosis relies on psychometric tests that are impractical in routine clinical practice. Approximately 40% of patients with cirrhosis develop MHE, experiencing mild cognitive impairment and motor disturbances that reduce both quality of life and survival. MHE can progress to overt hepatic encephalopathy, potentially leading to coma and death. Around two million people in the European Union are currently affected by MHE.
Raminatrans Foundation focuses primarily on supporting and protecting vulnerable children, as well as promoting research projects that contribute to social improvement. The foundation also develops initiatives aimed at supporting groups at risk of social exclusion and promotes equal opportunities, well-being and human development, with a strong commitment to solidarity, childhood and scientific research.
The UV Neurological Impairment Research Group is a multidisciplinary team of international relevance within the Faculty of Medicine. Its members have presented more than 225 papers at national and international conferences. The team comprises experts in biology, pharmacy, chemistry and medicine, trained in disciplines related to the pathology of patients with cirrhosis who develop minimal hepatic encephalopathy.
UV Research on Early Cognitive Impairment
Although minimal hepatic encephalopathy is considered to occur only once liver disease progresses to cirrhosis, the UV research group — which maintains international collaborations with teams in Italy, Morocco, Colombia, the United Kingdom and Russia — has demonstrated that patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MASLD) may already exhibit cognitive impairment, albeit at a lower prevalence than in cirrhotic patients.
Chronic liver disease progresses through several stages, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), commonly known as fatty liver disease. These conditions may lead to fibrosis and ultimately cirrhosis.
The incidence of MASH has increased significantly in recent decades due to Western lifestyle factors and is emerging as a leading cause of liver cirrhosis. It is primarily associated with obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and insulin resistance with features of metabolic syndrome.
