Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), which shows mild cognitive impairment, is a subtle complication of cirrhosis that has been shown to affect daily functioning and quality of life. However, until 2014, relevant guidelines do not give much attention to the diagnosis and treatment of MHE, resulting in patients being ignored and denied the benefits of treatment. In this review, we summarize recent cognition-based research about (1) alteration of nerve cells, including astrocytes, microglial cells and neurons, in mild cognitive impairment in MHE; (2) comparison of methods in detecting cognitive impairment in MHE; and (3) comparison of methods for therapy of cognitive impairment in MHE. We hope to provide information about diagnosis and treatment of cognitive impairment in patients with MHE.

轻度肝性脑病 (MHE) 表现为轻度认知障碍，是肝硬化的一种微妙并发症，已被证明会影响日常功能和生活质量。然而，直到2014年，相关指南并未对MHE的诊断和治疗给予太多关注，导致患者被忽视并否认治疗的益处。在这篇综述中，我们总结了最近基于认知的研究：（1）神经细胞，包括星形胶质细胞、小胶质细胞和神经元，在 MHE 轻度认知障碍中的改变；(2) MHE认知障碍检测方法的比较；(3) MHE认知障碍治疗方法的比较。我们希望提供有关 MHE 患者认知障碍诊断和治疗的信息。