Infection trajectories and biological age acceleration in a Shanghai cohort
In a Shanghai cohort of adults aged 20–74, frequent infection trajectories were associated with greater increases in biological age acceleration and with higher mortality; these are associations, not proof of cause. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Adults aged 20–74 from the Shanghai Suburban Adult Cohort and Biobank, enrolled 2016–2019, had biological age measured at baseline and follow-up. [1]
Among 7614 participants, the frequent infection trajectory group showed the largest estimate versus the infrequent group in the age- and sex-adjusted model (β = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.04–1.31). [1]
Frequent infection trajectories were also associated with higher mortality and greater years of life lost. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Prospective cohort study (abstract)
- Population / context
- Adults aged 20–74 years in the Shanghai Suburban Adult Cohort and Biobank, China, enrolled 2016–2019 with valid biological age measurements at baseline and follow-up.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 5, 2026
Shanghai cohort tracked infection burden quarterly
The study followed adults aged 20–74 from the Shanghai Suburban Adult Cohort and Biobank in China, enrolled between 2016 and 2019, who had valid biological age measurements at baseline and follow-up. Infection-related episodes came from linked local health information systems and were summarized quarterly between baseline and first follow-up. Group-based trajectory modeling sorted participants into infection trajectories. Biological age was estimated with the Klemera-Doubal method, and biological age acceleration was the residual from regressing biological age on chronological age.
Supporting source [1]
Frequent infections linked to faster biological aging
Among 7614 participants, four trajectories were identified: infrequent (71.15%), decreasing (18.72%), increasing (8.18%) and frequent (1.96%). Compared with the infrequent group, the frequent group showed the largest estimate in the age- and sex-adjusted model (β = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.04–1.31). A greater proportion of severe episodes was associated with faster change in biological age acceleration. Associations persisted in long-term analyses and appeared stronger among people with higher polygenic susceptibility. Frequent trajectories were also associated with higher mortality and more years of life lost.
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only scope limits causal reading
The report is an abstract; the full text was not reviewed. The design is a prospective cohort, so the findings describe associations between infection trajectories and biological age acceleration or mortality, not causes. The abstract does not report follow-up length, the size of the mortality estimates, or how many participants died. The authors conclude that cumulative infection burden deserves attention in vulnerable populations, which is a call for attention, not a treatment recommendation.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. Follow-up length, mortality estimate sizes and death counts are not reported in the abstract. Findings are associations from a prospective cohort, not causal effects.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Wang B, Shen K, Qian C, Yi L, Zhang Y, Yu H, Liu X, Jiang Y, Zhang T, Zhao G. · europepmc.org · September 5, 2026