Biological age gap and premature mortality in MASLD: NHANES analysis
In 10,933 NHANES participants, a larger gap between biological and chronological age was cross-sectionally associated with MASLD; within the MASLD group, this gap was associated with higher cumulative premature mortality. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Among 10,933 NHANES participants, a larger gap between biological and chronological age was linearly associated with MASLD (odds ratio 1.11, 95% CI 1.09–1.13) in a cross-sectional analysis. [1]
Within the MASLD group, biological age acceleration was reported to increase the cumulative incidence of premature mortality in a longitudinal competing risks analysis. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Observational study: cross-sectional analysis plus longitudinal cohort analysis (abstract)
- Population / context
- 10,933 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, including a MASLD group
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 6, 2026
Biological age gap and MASLD in NHANES
The study asked whether biological aging relates to MASLD and to premature death in people with MASLD. It used data from 10,933 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participants. Biological age was measured with the Gompertz Law-Based Biological Age metric, and accelerated aging was the difference between biological and chronological age. Across all participants, a larger gap was linearly associated with MASLD (odds ratio 1.11, 95% confidence interval 1.09–1.13). This part of the analysis was cross-sectional, so it describes an association at one point, not a cause.
Supporting source [1]
Premature mortality within the MASLD group
Within the MASLD group, the researchers used a Fine–Gray competing risks model to examine the longitudinal link between biological aging and premature mortality. They also used restricted cubic spline analysis to look for possible nonlinear associations. The abstract reports that biological age acceleration increases the cumulative incidence of premature mortality among people with MASLD. Because this is an observational cohort analysis, the result is an association, not proof that accelerated biological aging causes death.
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only scope of the MASLD aging study
The available text is an abstract; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract does not report follow-up duration, how premature mortality was defined, or effect estimates for the mortality analysis, and it gives no adjustment details. The cross-sectional MASLD finding and the longitudinal mortality finding come from different analyses and should not be merged. The results concern people with MASLD in NHANES and do not establish that changing biological age would change mortality risk.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. Follow-up length, the definition of premature mortality, mortality effect estimates and adjustment details are not reported in the abstract. Findings are observational associations, not causal effects.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Li S, Chen B. · europepmc.org · September 6, 2026