New data is showing that more older people are ending up on liver transplant waiting lists than at any point in history. And although the pandemic may play a small role in the uptick, it’s certainly not the main driver—alcohol use and obesity are. In fact, these two causes have overtaken hepatitis C as the main drivers of liver failure. In most cases, the 65-plus population is experiencing liver disease resulting from fatty liver disease, in which excess fat on the organ leads to scarring that impairs function. The increase in the need for liver transplants in this demographic is interesting because traditionally, it’s a relatively new phenomenon. Most liver transplants occur in midlife, generally between 40 and 50. Researchers with Inova Health System in Falls Church, Virginia, conducted the study. They found that in the early 2000s, 13 percent of 65-plus liver transplants were related to fatty liver disease. …