Austin Johnson in August 2019 when his eyes and skin had turned yellow from liver disease caused by years of heavy drinking.
Courtesy Austin JohnsonCirrhosis or severe liver disease used to be something that mostly struck people in middle age, or older.
“We’re definitely seeing younger and younger patients coming in with what we previously thought was advanced liver disease seen in patients only in their middle age, 50s and 60s,” said Mellinger.
Since 2018, Mellinger, and doctors at the Michigan Alcohol Improvement program provide psychiatrists and addiction specialists to patients with liver disease.
The yellow color in his skin and eyes — a symptom of severe liver disease — has disappeared.