Liver Function Aging: What Changes and How to Protect It

When you get older, your liver function aging, the natural decline in how well the liver processes drugs, clears toxins, and regenerates tissue over time. Also known as hepatic senescence, it’s not just about getting slower—it’s about changing how your body handles everything from painkillers to alcohol. You might not feel it, but your liver is doing less with more. By age 70, blood flow through the liver drops by up to 35%, and the number of liver cells that actually work declines too. That means meds stick around longer, toxins build up faster, and recovery from injury takes more time.

This isn’t just about drinking. It’s about every pill, supplement, and even over-the-counter drug you take. The medication metabolism, how the liver breaks down and removes drugs from the bloodstream slows down, which is why the Beers Criteria lists so many common drugs as risky for seniors. Drugs like benzodiazepines, NSAIDs, and even some antibiotics become harder to clear, raising the chance of side effects or toxicity. Your liver also gets less efficient at activating or deactivating compounds—so what worked fine at 40 might be too strong at 70.

And it’s not just drugs. Your liver’s ability to handle liver detoxification, the process of filtering harmful substances like alcohol, environmental toxins, and metabolic waste weakens too. That’s why some people notice more bloating, fatigue, or skin issues as they age—not because they’re eating worse, but because their liver can’t keep up. Even natural supplements like milk thistle or turmeric, often thought of as "liver helpers," can interact differently when your liver’s processing power is down.

What you can do? It’s not about miracle cures. It’s about reducing the load. Cut back on alcohol—even one drink a day adds up over decades. Avoid unnecessary meds. Talk to your doctor about every pill you take, including vitamins and herbs. Get regular liver enzyme tests if you’re on long-term medications. And stay active: exercise boosts blood flow to the liver and helps it regenerate more efficiently. Studies show even moderate walking five days a week can improve liver fat clearance in older adults.

You’re not powerless here. The liver is one of the few organs that can regenerate—but only if you give it a chance. The posts below dive into exactly how aging affects drug safety, what tests matter most, which supplements actually help (and which don’t), and how to spot early signs your liver is struggling. You’ll find real advice on managing medications like cyclosporine or warfarin as you age, how to avoid dangerous interactions with common painkillers, and what lifestyle changes make the biggest difference. No fluff. Just what works.