Plasma Proteomics Predicts Metabolic Liver Disease Up to 16 Years in Advance

omarabudayyeh · x · 2026-08-01

Eric Topol highlights recent studies showing that analyzing plasma proteomics can predict the onset of metabolic liver disease (MASLD) up to 16 years before clinical appearance.

In the UK Biobank, panels of just 5 to 20 plasma proteins outperformed standard workups (like cholesterol levels and family history) in predicting the 10-year onset of 67 different conditions.

Unlike genetic or epigenetic clocks that only indicate aging, proteins provide actionable targets. Since nearly all drugs are designed to target proteins, a protein risk signal (like PCSK9) directly points to potential therapeutic interventions.

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