There’s a Fatty Liver Epidemic. AI Could Help Get Ahead of It

Over a billion people worldwide have fatty liver disease, a condition that typically develops without noticeable symptoms and can eventually lead to liver failure, cardiovascular disease, and various cancers. AI tools are being developed to identify this condition early by analyzing routine blood tests and x-ray images, which is critical because the disease is highly reversible in its initial stages through lifestyle changes and newer medications, yet three-quarters of advanced cases are only diagnosed when life-threatening. Researchers believe AI can help by automating risk assessments and screening large volumes of medical records to prioritize patients most likely to have significant liver fat, addressing the gap where simple diagnostic tests exist but are rarely used in practice. Several AI algorithms have already demonstrated effectiveness in predicting liver fibrosis risk and identifying which patients would benefit from specific treatments.