New NAFLD or NASH content for you
If you missed our live webinar, you can catch up on the discussion about the NASH therapy landscape by watching the video recording.
Genetic counsellor Kira Dineen explains how it's possible for healthy people to pass on genetic disorders.
Genetic counsellor Kira Dineen explains how nature and nurture work together and not in isolation.
Genetic counsellor Kira Dineen explains how we can all be unique when we share 99.9% of our DNA.
How can our genes reveal personalised treatment options? Genetic counsellor Kira Dineen explains.
Certified genetic counsellor Kira Dineen explains genetic risk and the role it plays in healthcare decisions.
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!
Share this page to help us reach more people, build a better information set, and move research forward!