How getting older affects alcohol-related liver disease
Development and Progression of Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease: Effect of Aging
Researchers are looking at how aging changes the way alcohol damages the liver, including effects on gut bacteria and fat tissue, for people with alcohol-related liver disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261160 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This program looks at why older people may develop worse alcohol-related liver damage by studying changes in the liver, gut microbiome, and fat (adipose) tissue. Scientists will use lab experiments, animal models, and human samples to track inflammation, gut barrier leaks, and metabolic changes linked to disease progression. They will compare younger and older subjects and tissues to find biological signals that move simple fatty liver toward steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, or liver cancer. The team plans to use these findings to point toward ways to prevent or treat alcohol-associated liver disease in older adults.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults with a history of heavy alcohol use or diagnosed alcohol-associated liver disease, especially older adults and those willing to provide clinical samples or medical data.
Not a fit: People without alcohol-related liver disease, or those whose liver problems are solely due to non-alcohol causes, may not directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new prevention strategies or treatments to reduce alcohol-related liver damage in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked gut microbiome changes and adipose inflammation to alcohol liver injury, but focusing on aging as a driving factor is relatively new and still being explored.
Where this research is happening
Omaha, United States
- University of Nebraska Medical Center — Omaha, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kharbanda, Kusum K. — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Kharbanda, Kusum K.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.