ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the most important landmark discoveries and studies in the history of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that have formed the current understanding of this disease. It explains historical perspectives of pathophysiology, natural history and the association with metabolic syndrome: association between metabolic syndrome components; association of NAFLD and metabolic syndrome; apoptosis, lipid and bile acid metabolism; inflammatory response; and genetics of NAFLD. A high burden of metabolic comorbidities is associated with NAFLD creating implications for clinical management of the disease. NAFLD genetics have also been incorporated into diagnostic and prognostic models and polygenic scores. As the understanding of NAFLD pathophysiology is advancing rapidly, the development of therapeutics that can affect a variety of new targets has been progressing. The treatment of NAFLD can be divided into lifestyle modifications to induce weight loss and pharmacological treatments.
