Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Animal Models of Depression - Chronic Despair Model CDM
05:47

Animal Models of Depression - Chronic Despair Model CDM

Published on: September 23, 2021

8.1K

Depression, fatigue and neurocognitive deficits in chronic hepatitis C

Sern Wei Yeoh1, Alex C N Holmes2, Michael M Saling3,4,5

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, Eastern Health, 3 West, Building B, 8 Arnold St, Box Hill, VIC, 3128, Australia. syeoh58@hotmail.com.

Hepatology International
|June 23, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes brain changes leading to depression and fatigue, even in early stages. These neurological effects may persist despite viral clearance, requiring ongoing multidisciplinary care.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Hepatology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is linked to significant quality-of-life impairments, including depression, fatigue, and neurocognitive deficits.
  • These symptoms are observed even in early-stage HCV infection, independent of hepatic inflammation, comorbidities, or encephalopathy.
  • The persistence of these symptoms suggests underlying intracerebral neurobiological changes associated with HCV infection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential intracerebral neurobiological mechanisms underlying depression, fatigue, and neurocognitive deficits in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
  • To investigate whether these neurobiological changes are reversible after HCV clearance with direct-acting antiviral medications.
  • To highlight the need for multidisciplinary care and potential future therapies targeting brain changes in HCV patients.

Main Methods:

  • The study reviews existing literature on the neurobiological effects of HCV infection.
  • It examines the mechanisms by which HCV may affect the brain, including cytokine infiltration and direct viral effects.
  • It discusses the impact of these changes on brain function and the persistence of symptoms post-treatment.

Main Results:

  • HCV infection is associated with intracerebral changes, including upregulated inflammation, altered neurotransmitter levels, hormonal dysregulation, and neurotoxic substance release.
  • These neurobiological alterations can lead to impaired neuronal function in brain regions controlling mood, emotion, motivation, and cognition.
  • Direct-acting antiviral therapy, while effective for viral clearance, may not fully reverse these intracerebral changes, leading to persistent symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Intracerebral neurobiological changes are a key factor in the persistent depression, fatigue, and neurocognitive deficits seen in HCV patients.
  • These changes may result from HCV's direct or indirect effects on the central nervous system.
  • Multidisciplinary care and pharmacotherapy are crucial for managing these symptoms, with future therapies potentially targeting the underlying neurobiological alterations.

Keywords:
CognitionDepressionFatigueHepatitis CQuality of life

More Related Videos

Using Chronic Social Stress to Model Postpartum Depression in Lactating Rodents07:30

Using Chronic Social Stress to Model Postpartum Depression in Lactating Rodents

Published on: June 10, 2013

25.6K
An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents06:55

An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents

Published on: December 2, 2015

23.5K

Related Concept Videos

Fatigue01:21

Fatigue

Fatigue occurs when materials rupture under repeated or fluctuating loads, even at stress levels far below their static breaking strength. It typically results in brittle failure, even for ductile materials. It is a critical consideration in designing machines and structural components subjected to repetitive or varying loads. The nature of these loadings can range from fluctuating loads like unbalanced pump impellers causing vibrations to repeatedly bending a thin steel rod wire back and forth...
856
Long-term Depression01:05

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
33.3K
Long-term Depression01:03

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
3.4K
Freezing Point Depression and Boiling Point Elevation03:12

Freezing Point Depression and Boiling Point Elevation

Boiling Point Elevation
The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which its vapor pressure is equal to ambient atmospheric pressure. Since the vapor pressure of a solution is lowered due to the presence of nonvolatile solutes, it stands to reason that the solution’s boiling point will subsequently be increased. Vapor pressure increases with temperature, and so a solution will require a higher temperature than will pure solvent to achieve any given vapor pressure, including one...
40.3K
Depressants01:28

Depressants

Depressant drugs, including alcohol and sedative-hypnotics, diminish central nervous system activity by enhancing the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that reduces brain activity and promotes relaxation. These substances can have various therapeutic uses but also pose significant risks, especially when misused or combined.
Alcohol is a common depressant that can induce a sense of relaxation and reduced inhibition at low doses. Contrary to its occasional...
454
Depression: Overview01:18

Depression: Overview

Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
913