Roundup: Cases of Alcohol-Related Liver Disease have Doubled Over Past Two Decades; and More News

Alcohol-Related Liver Disease has Surged Among U.S. Adults Since 1999, Study Finds

Heavy alcohol consumption is now linked to more than twice the risk of developing serious liver disease compared to two decades ago, according to a new study from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC), 

The research, which was published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, provides a comprehensive update on how heavy drinking habits are affecting liver health across different population groups in the United States.

The study analyzed data from over two decades of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), focusing on adults aged 20 and older between 1999 and 2020. Researchers tracked both drinking patterns and the prevalence of significant liver disease, which refers to liver damage marked by scar tissue that impairs normal liver function—a condition often precipitated by chronic heavy drinking.

“Alcohol-related liver disease is the main cause of liver-related death, and these results are a major wake-up call to the dangers of drinking,” stated one of the study’s lead authors, Brian P. Lee, M.D., a hepatologist and liver transplant specialist with Keck Medicine, in a news release.

A Changing Risk Profile

Notably, the study found that the demographic makeup of heavy drinkers has shifted significantly. Today, four groups make up a larger portion of the heavy-drinking population:

• Women
• Adults aged 45 and older
• Individuals living in poverty
• People with metabolic syndrome (a condition marked by obesity, high blood pressure, and abnormal cholesterol or glucose levels)

These groups were previously known to be more vulnerable to alcohol-related liver damage, but their growing share of heavy drinkers may help explain the nationwide increase in liver disease.

“Our results show that the makeup of the American public with heavy alcohol consumption has changed compared to 20 years ago,” Dr. Lee stated.

This shift in demographics—rather than an overall increase in alcohol consumption—may be driving the rise in liver disease, the researchers indicate. The study noted that the average level of alcohol intake in the U.S. remained stable from 1999 until just before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Implications for Public Health

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines heavy drinking as consuming eight or more alcoholic drinks per week for women and 15 or more for men. Given the increased risks revealed in this study, the findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions and health screenings.

“This is the first major look at how demographic trends intersect with liver disease risk since the 1990s,” said Dr. Lee. “It provides critical insight into which populations may require more intensive public health efforts.”

The researchers hope their work will guide physicians in updating care strategies and spur the development of more effective public health campaigns. As liver disease continues to rise in the U.S., particularly among at-risk groups, this study underscores the importance of preventative care and alcohol-use screening.

The study was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and co-authored by Jennifer Dodge, MPH, from the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

Can’t Do 10,000 Steps? New Research Suggests 7,000 Daily Steps Can Significantly Improve Health 

A global study led by the University of Sydney has identified 7,000 steps per day as a realistic and highly beneficial target for improving various health outcomes – a more attainable goal for many individuals compared to the often-cited 10,000 daily steps.

Published in The Lancet Public Health, the research analyzed data from 57 studies conducted across more than ten countries, including Australia, the United States, and Japan, making it the most comprehensive review of its kind.

The study examined the link between daily step counts and the risk of multiple health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and depression. Researchers also analyzed mortality outcomes, providing evidence that walking at least 7,000 steps daily significantly reduces the risk of premature death and other major health concerns.

A Manageable Benchmark for Better Health

According to the study’s lead author, Professor Melody Ding from the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney, the findings provide encouraging news for those who may struggle to meet traditional fitness recommendations, such as the 10,000-step goal. She explained in a news release: “Aiming for 7,000 steps is a realistic goal based on our findings, which assessed health outcomes in a range of areas that hadn’t been looked at before.”

The study concluded that walking 7,000 steps daily can reduce the risk of death by 47 percent, a result nearly equivalent to the benefits seen at 10,000 steps per day. Additionally, taking 7,000 steps lowered the risk of dementia by 38 percent, while increasing steps beyond this level provided only modest additional benefits for most health outcomes.

“For people who are already active, 10,000 steps a day is great,” said Dr. Katherine Owen, co-author of the study, in a news release. “But beyond 7,000 steps, the extra benefits for most of the health outcomes we looked at were modest.”

Versatility Across Health Outcomes

One of the key strengths of this study lies in its broad scope. By reviewing data from studies involving pedometers, fitness trackers, and accelerometers, researchers were able to provide robust evidence of the impact of incremental step increases. For instance, moving from 2,000 daily steps to 4,000 steps or beyond was associated with significant health improvements, including reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, dementia, depression, and type 2 diabetes.

Professor Ding emphasized the importance of gradual progress. “Our research helps to shift the focus from perfection to progress. Even small increases in daily movement can lead to meaningful health improvements,” she stated.

Implications for Public Health Guidelines

The research not only offers practical advice for individuals aiming to improve their health but may also influence future physical activity guidelines. The team is working with the Australian government to incorporate these findings into updated recommendations. Researchers emphasize the value of incremental lifestyle changes, and reframe physical activity as an achievable goal rather than a daunting challenge.

The study’s authors also highlighted the need for further research to investigate how optimal step goals might vary based on factors such as age, health status, and regional differences. Including diverse populations and longer-term data will be crucial for strengthening these findings and tailoring health recommendations more effectively.

New Study Suggests the COVID Pandemic May Have Aged Our Brains

The COVID-19 pandemic may have accelerated brain aging, even among individuals who were never infected with the virus, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom.

The findings, published in Nature Communications, indicate that societal disruptions, stress, and isolation caused by the pandemic could have left an enduring impact on brain health.

The study examined longitudinal brain MRI scans of nearly 1,000 healthy adults collected as part of the UK Biobank project. Participants were divided into those scanned before the pandemic and those with scans both before and after the pandemic.

Researchers used advanced imaging methods and machine learning to estimate each person's "brain age"—a measure that gauges how old one's brain appears compared to their actual age.

Notably, individuals scanned after the onset of the pandemic exhibited signs of accelerated brain aging compared to pre-pandemic participants. These effects were most evident in older adults, men, and people from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.

“This study reminds us that brain health is shaped not only by illness, but by our everyday environment,” explained Professor Dorothee Auer, senior author and expert in neuroimaging. “The pandemic put a strain on people’s lives, especially those already facing disadvantage. We can’t yet test whether the changes we saw will reverse, but it’s certainly possible, and that’s an encouraging thought.”

The Role of Infection and Cognitive Impact

The analysis showed significant drops in mental flexibility and processing speed only among individuals who had contracted COVID-19 between their brain scans. This suggests that while the infection can impair specific cognitive functions, the pandemic's general effect on brain aging might not immediately present with noticeable symptoms. Encouragingly, the researchers emphasized that these changes may be reversible.

Ali-Reza Mohammadi-Nejad, Ph.D., one of the study’s lead investigators, noted the outcomes in a news release. “What surprised me most was that even people who hadn’t had COVID showed significant increases in brain aging rates. It really shows how much the experience of the pandemic itself, everything from isolation to uncertainty, may have affected our brain health,” he said.

Broader Implications and Future Research

This research highlights the pandemic’s widespread influence on public health, particularly mental and neurological well-being, the study states. It also underscores how external factors, such as prolonged stress and social isolation, could potentially accelerate biological aging processes in the brain.

The study leveraged an extensive brain age model created using over 15,000 scans from healthy individuals without underlying medical conditions. This robust dataset provided an opportunity to closely monitor the effects of a major global event like the pandemic on brain health, the researcher said.

“The longitudinal MRI data acquired before and after the pandemic from the UK Biobank gave us a rare window to observe how such a major life event can affect the brain,” stated Professor Stamatios Sotiropoulos, a co-senior author of the study, in a news release.