It rapidly damages the liver. People over 45 are most at risk.

A new program and 27 students for every spot. High school graduates have less and less time.

New guidelines and a major change: It will be easier to obtain a disability certificate.

After 20 years, a common myth has been debunked. It doesn't reduce the risk of cancer, heart attacks, or strokes.

The study was conducted by scientists from the Keck School of Medicine.

Alcoholic liver disease is the leading cause of liver-related deaths , and these results are a serious warning sign about the risks associated with drinking alcohol, said Dr. Brian P. Lee, a hepatologist and liver transplant specialist, lead author of the study described in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology .

The study also sheds light on the demographic makeup of American alcohol drinkers, showing that four groups now account for a larger share of heavy drinkers than they did 20 years ago.

The researchers list women, adults aged 45 and older, people living in poverty, and those with metabolic syndrome (a group of conditions that together increase the risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, and stroke).

Previous studies have linked these populations to a higher risk of liver disease when consuming alcohol.

"Our results are the first comprehensive analysis of the demographics of heavy drinking and its relationship with liver disease since the 1990s. They provide important new information about which social groups may require stronger interventions to reduce alcohol consumption. They may also explain the increase in the incidence of liver disease over the years," the scientist emphasizes.

Furthermore, the study found that average alcohol consumption in the United States had remained stable over the past 20 years—prior to the COVID-19 pandemic—suggesting that factors other than the amount of alcohol consumed may be responsible for the increase in cases, such as changing health status and demographics.

"Our results show that the composition of American society in terms of people who drink alcohol excessively has changed compared to 20 years ago," says Dr. Lee.

He and his team analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a project that assesses the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States from 1999 to 2020.

Information on heavy drinkers aged 20 and over was included.

The researchers hope that the results will provide physicians with essential, up-to-date information that will allow them to better treat patients and contribute to more frequent screening and interventions among high-risk populations.