From gut to brain: Scientists engineer bacteria to treat severe liver-related brain dysfunction

MedicalXpress | avr. 28, 2026

When the liver fails, toxins—such as ammonia—that should be filtered from the blood build up and reach the brain. The result is hepatic encephalopathy (HE), a devastating neurological complication of liver disease that can cause anxiety, confusion, memory loss and, in severe cases, coma. HE is a common endpoint of liver cirrhosis, driving frequent hospitalizations and placing a heavy burden on patients and health care systems worldwide.