NAFLD or NASH research
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NAFLD or NASH Prevalence
NAFLD affects approximately 1 in 4 people on a global scale.
NAFLD is highly prevalent on a global scale, but the highest rates are reported in South America and the Middle East, followed by Asia, the USA and Europe. [1]
Genetics
Genetically, NAFLD is complex, although it does have a consistent association with one gene PNPLA3, in European populations. Researchers are calling for further studies to investigate the genetics of NAFLD in diverse populations. [2]
Heritability means how much of the differences in a trait (like height) within a group of people can be attributed to differences in genetics.
Something like eye colour has very high heritability (>80%), which means it’s almost completely determined by genetics. Something like a person’s first language has 0% heritability - as that’s entirely to do with their environment.
What it doesn’t mean is how likely something is to be inherited from a parent , as even if a condition had 100% heritability, and so was completely down to genetics, it might be associated with a dominant or recessive gene, or more likely associated with many many genes, which interact in complex ways and which are still being explored & discovered!
Main Symptoms
Early stage NAFLD is usually symptom-less and will only become apparent if diagnosed during tests carried out for another reason. Patients with NASH (a more advanced form of NAFLD) can sometimes experience the above symptoms. [4]
Impacts
Development of NAFLD is closely linked to lifestyle factors, including poor diet and lack of regular exercise. There is currently no drug therapy available for treatment of NAFLD. [5]
It’s estimated that the more advanced form of NAFLD, NASH, will be the most common reason for liver transplants in the USA by 2030. [6]
These are the best resources we've found so far on managing and learning about NAFLD or NASH . Please let us know if you have other and we'll add them to the list!
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