Habitual fasting duration and 15-year multimorbidity in Swedish older adults
In a Swedish cohort of adults aged 60 and older, longer habitual fasting (14–24 h versus 6–11.5 h) was associated with faster 15-year accumulation of chronic diseases, especially in those aged 78 and older. This is an association, not proof of cause. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The cohort included 2981 mostly community-dwelling adults aged 60 and older, followed over 15 years. [1]
The highest fasting quartile (14–24 h) showed steeper annual accumulation of total chronic diseases than the lowest quartile (6–11.5 h). [1]
The association with total chronic disease accumulation appeared in adults aged 78 and older but was absent in the younger group. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Longitudinal population-based cohort study (abstract)
- Population / context
- 2981 predominantly community-dwelling adults aged 60 and older in Kungsholmen, Sweden.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- August 20, 2026
Fasting and disease in adults 60 and older
The study asked whether habitual fasting duration is linked to chronic disease accumulation in older adults. Data came from the Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen, a longitudinal population-based cohort of 2981 mostly community-dwelling adults aged 60 and older. Habitual fasting duration was defined as the longest interval between two typical eating occasions within 24 hours. Multimorbidity was the total number of chronic diseases out of 60 at each visit, examined overall and within cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric and musculoskeletal systems.
Supporting source [1]
Faster disease accumulation in the longest-fasting group
Compared with the lowest fasting quartile (6–11.5 h), participants in the highest quartile (14–24 h) showed steeper annual accumulation of total chronic diseases (β = 0.119; 95% confidence interval 0.070 to 0.167), cardiovascular diseases (0.022 [0.006, 0.038]) and neuropsychiatric diseases (0.019 [0.005, 0.033]), but not musculoskeletal diseases. The association with total chronic disease accumulation appeared in adults aged 78 and older (β = 0.099 [0.031, 0.168]) but was absent in the younger group.
Supporting source [1]
Association only; abstract scope and age pattern
The authors conclude that in older adults, particularly the older old, longer habitual fasting duration was associated with faster chronic disease accumulation, suggesting it may be detrimental in advanced age. This is an observational association and does not show that fasting causes disease. The abstract does not report the age cut-off separating the two age groups, and the full text was not reviewed.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is an observational cohort association, not evidence of causation. The abstract does not report the age cut-off between the two age groups or detailed adjustment information.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Kalmbach L, Abbad-Gomez D, Beridze G, Rodríguez-Artalejo F, Vetrano DL, Calderón-Larrañaga A, Carballo-Casla A. · europepmc.org · August 20, 2026