[Senile liver and its repercussions on cerebral activity]

On the basis of previous personal data regarding glycidic, lipidic and protein metabolism in groups of young-old-cirrhotic and hypoglycaemic subjects, a correlative study has been carried out for the purpose of highlighting dependence situations between reduced cerebral activity in the elderly and liver-dependent metabolic changes. Specifically as regards protein metabolism, it is shown that all amino acids dependent on the senescence process (glutammic acid, cystine, thyrosine, histidine, threonine, serine) are related to those involved in altered consciousness states (hepatic and hypoglycaemic coma). It is thus possible that in the elderly too there may be some correlation between liver function deficiency and senile encephalopathy.