Metabolic HealthNew Liver Aging Index Predicts Mortality Better Than Chronological Age
Researchers developed the Liver Aging Index (LAI), a noninvasive score combining routine clinical measurements, blood biomarkers, and liver imaging to estimate biological aging of the liver. Validated across three large cohorts totaling over 37,000 individuals from 16 global centers, the LAI outperformed chronological age in predicting mortality. People whose livers aged faster than expected faced up to 85% higher all-cause mortality risk and up to 170% higher risk of liver-related death or disease events. Genetic analysis further showed that inherited predisposition to accelerated liver aging sharply elevated risks of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Unexpectedly, the amyloid-beta clearance pathway — better known for its role in Alzheimer's — emerged as a novel mechanism in liver aging.
