Of the human body’s many organs, the liver is arguably one of the hardest workers.
This 3-pound whirlwind in the upper right abdomen handles 500 jobs, including filtering more than 250 gallons of blood a day.
It deals with toxic substances, breaks down fats and stores glucose to give you energy when you need it.
And like many hard workers, the liver rarely complains.
That can be a bad thing, though.
Because a damaged liver can function for years without showing signs of distress, like yellowed skin or swelling, a person whose liver is creeping toward failure often has no idea.
A new study led by researchers from Johns Hopkins University uses an artificial intelligence-driven biopsy to scan patterns of DNA circulating in a patient’s blood.
The test evaluates DNA fragments, looking at how they break apart, rather than hunting for genetic mutations.
The system can reliably spot liver fibrosis and cirrhosis earlier. These conditions often go overlooked before serious damage occurs.
An estimated 100 million Americans have health conditions that elevate their risk for cirrhosis or liver cancer, so earlier detection could allow doctors to treat underlying disease sooner — before it progresses.
Thus far, the blood test is a prototype, so it has not yet gone through clinical testing.
The researchers say their findings suggest the technology might eventually have wider applications, such as being able to detect still more diseases.
Until then, you can offer your persevering liver some much-needed rest: Maintain a healthy weight with a high-fiber, low-sugar and low-fat diet, and try to exercise every day.