Steatotic Liver Disease in Older Adults: Clinical Implications and Unmet Needs

Daniel Clayton-Chubb; William W Kemp; Ammar Majeed; Peter W Lange; Jessica A Fitzpatrick; Karl Vaz; John S Lubel; Alexander D Hodge; Joanne Ryan; John J McNeil; Alice J Owen; Robyn L Woods; Stuart K Roberts

doi:10.3390/nu17132189

Steatotic Liver Disease in Older Adults: Clinical Implications and Unmet Needs

Nutrients. 2025 Jun 30;17(13):2189. doi: 10.3390/nu17132189.

Authors

Daniel Clayton-Chubb^{1

2

3}, William W Kemp^{1

2}, Ammar Majeed^{1

2}, Peter W Lange^{4

5}, Jessica A Fitzpatrick^{1

2}, Karl Vaz^{1

2}, John S Lubel^{1

2

6}, Alexander D Hodge^{3

7

8}, Joanne Ryan⁹, John J McNeil⁹, Alice J Owen⁹, Robyn L Woods⁹, Stuart K Roberts^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gastroenterology, Alfred Health, Melbourne 3004, Australia.
² School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3004, Australia.
³ Department of Gastroenterology, Eastern Health, Box Hill 3128, Australia.
⁴ Department of Geriatrics and General Medicine, Werribee Mercy Hospital, Werribee 3030, Australia.
⁵ Department of Aged Care and Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3050, Australia.
⁶ Department of Gastroenterology, Northern Health, Epping 3076, Australia.
⁷ School of Health and Biomedical Science, RMIT University, Melbourne 3083, Australia.
⁸ Eastern Clinical School, Monash University, Box Hill 3128, Australia.
⁹ School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3004, Australia.

Abstract

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the commonest cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Its incidence has been increasing rapidly, alongside the growing epidemics of type 2 diabetes mellitus and overweight/obesity. Global population age has also been increasing in parallel, and predictions indicate there will be more than 2 billion persons aged over 65 by the year 2050. The interplay between MASLD and other health conditions of older persons has been a focus of recent research. In this narrative review, we aim to describe its prevalence; clinical and sociodemographic associations; and outcomes for older persons, all of which are of significant importance when considering public health messaging as well as screening and counselling individual older adults.

Keywords: MASLD; NAFLD; ageing; cardiovascular disease; hepatology; lifestyle; liver; metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease; older adults.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Fatty Liver* / epidemiology
Fatty Liver* / therapy
Female
Humans
Male
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / epidemiology
Prevalence
Risk Factors