Roundup: Severe Infection Could Raise Risk of Heart Failure Years Later; and More News

NIH Study Links Severe Infections to Increased Risk of Heart Failure Later in Life

A study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found a link between severe infections and an increased risk of developing heart failure later in life. The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, reveals that adults hospitalized for infections, such as respiratory infections or sepsis, are more than twice as likely to develop heart failure years down the line.

The study analyzed data from 14,468 adults, aged 45-64, and tracked their health over a 31-year period. None of the participants had heart failure when the study began. But those who were hospitalized for a severe infection were found to have a 2.35 times higher risk of developing heart failure, compared to those who did not experience such hospitalizations.

Infections can take a serious toll on the body, and this study emphasizes just how important it is to take measures to prevent them. "These are ‘sit-up and take notice’ findings," said Sean Coady, M.A., deputy branch chief in the NIH’s Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, in a news release. "While there’s already a reasonable body of evidence linking previous infections with heart attack, this study is focused on heart failure, which has been less studied but affects an estimated six million Americans."

The research highlights the critical role of infection prevention in protecting heart health. Preventive measures such as staying up-to-date with vaccinations and practicing good hygiene are key to reducing the risk of severe infections. The study found that nearly half of participants experienced an infection-related hospitalization, indicating that severe infections could potentially affect the heart health of a large portion of the population, particularly older adults.

The types of infections included in the study ranged from respiratory to urinary tract infections and hospital-acquired infections. The researchers found that regardless of the infection type, those who were hospitalized faced a heightened risk of developing heart failure. This association persisted across both types of heart failure studied: heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), where the heart muscle becomes too stiff, and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), where the heart’s ability to pump blood is weakened.

Notably, HFpEF, which is the most common form of heart failure among older adults, was linked to a nearly threefold increase in risk following an infection-related hospitalization. This form of heart failure is especially challenging to treat, as it has fewer available treatment options compared to HFrEF.

While the study does not establish a direct causal relationship between infections and heart failure, the findings suggest that people who have experienced severe infections and are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease should be proactive in seeking care. Ryan Demmer, Ph.D., senior author of the study, advises those at risk to consult with their healthcare providers and ensure they are receiving appropriate treatments to manage cardiovascular health.

This study opens the door for future research that could explore the causal links between infections and heart failure development. For anyone who has had a severe infection, it’s worth discussing your heart health with a medical professional, especially if you’re at risk for cardiovascular disease, the NIH states. 

Learn more: What are the Different Types of Heart Failure? An Expert Explains

Researchers: Intermittent Fasting May Be Unsafe for Teenagers

Intermittent fasting has become a popular trend in recent years, touted for its potential health benefits – although its long-term effects are still a topic of debate. A new study may make you think twice before encouraging teens and young adults to try this fasting trend.

Researchers from Helmholtz Munich, the Technical University of Munich (TUM), and LMU Hospital Munich recently found that intermittent fasting could have unintended, potentially harmful effects on young people’s health.

While intermittent fasting has shown promise in boosting metabolism for adults, the latest research reveals that it may not be so beneficial for the younger population, particularly teenagers. In fact, the study found that intermittent fasting in adolescent mice led to impaired insulin production—a key factor in regulating metabolism and blood sugar levels.

Researchers observed three groups of mice at different life stages: adolescent, adult, and older. These mice underwent a fasting regimen of one day without food, followed by two days of normal eating, continuing for 10 weeks. Afterward, the results showed that intermittent fasting improved insulin sensitivity in both adult and older mice, meaning their bodies responded better to insulin, a hormone crucial for regulating blood sugar levels.

But the findings took a troubling turn when the team looked at the younger mice. Rather than showing the benefits seen in the adults, the adolescent mice experienced a decline in their insulin-producing beta cells. These beta cells, found in the pancreas, play a vital role in regulating blood sugar levels. When beta cells fail to function properly, it can lead to issues like diabetes and metabolic disorders. Researchers were surprised by the results, especially since intermittent fasting is often thought to have protective effects on these very cells.

Why the Results Are Concerning for Teens? The real concern lies in the development of beta cells in younger mice. The researchers used advanced single-cell sequencing techniques to uncover that, in adolescent mice, beta cells failed to mature properly after intermittent fasting. This developmental impairment is significant because these cells were unable to produce the necessary amounts of insulin to regulate blood sugar, increasing the risk of long-term metabolic issues.

Interestingly, older mice, whose beta cells were already fully matured before fasting, did not experience this issue. The study highlights a crucial point: intermittent fasting may have positive effects on mature systems but could potentially disrupt development in younger individuals.

While the study was conducted on mice, the findings raise important questions about the effects of intermittent fasting on human adolescents. In fact, when the researchers compared the mice's beta cell impairment to human data, they noted similar patterns in patients with type 1 diabetes—where beta cells are destroyed by an autoimmune response.

This comparison suggests that intermittent fasting could, in some cases, lead to disruptions in beta cell development, which could have serious implications for young people’s long-term health.

In a news release, Stephan Herzig, director of the Institute for Diabetes and Cancer at Helmholtz Munich and a professor at TUM, explains: “Our study confirms that intermittent fasting is beneficial for adults, but it might come with risks for children and teenagers. The next step is digging deeper into the molecular mechanisms underlying these observations. If we better understand how to promote healthy beta cell development, it will open new avenues for treating diabetes by restoring insulin production.”

Study Links Certain Chromosome Biomarkers to Increased Risk of Age-Related Brain Diseases

There’s a potential connection between shortened telomeres -- protective caps at the end of chromosomes -- and an increased risk of developing age-related brain diseases, such as stroke, dementia, and late-life depression.

The preliminary research, presented this month at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2025, is based on data from more than 356,000 participants in the UK Biobank in the United Kingdom. It suggests that shorter protective caps at the ends of chromosomes may make individuals more vulnerable to these conditions.

Telomeres are crucial for maintaining the integrity of an individual’s genetic material. As we age, these telomeres naturally shorten, making it harder for them to protect the chromosomes from damage. This process is tied to biological aging, which is linked to a range of age-related diseases.

Leukocyte telomere length, specifically, serves as a key marker of biological age, reflecting the telomeres in white blood cells (leukocytes). While factors like genetics, ancestry, and gender play a role in telomere length, modifiable elements such as lifestyle choices and environmental stressors—like pollution—also have an impact.

According to Dr. Tamara N. Kimball, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health at Massachusetts General Hospital, this study is the first of its kind to explore the impact of leukocyte telomere length on age-related brain diseases, including stroke, dementia, and late-life depression. These three conditions are closely linked to cerebral small vessel disease, a condition that worsens with age and is influenced by vascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol.

The study analyzed blood samples from participants who were recruited between 2006 and 2010 for the UK Biobank. They provided blood samples to measure their leukocyte telomere length and underwent a Brain Care Score assessment, which evaluates factors such as physical health, lifestyle habits, and social interactions. Over a median follow-up period of 12 years, researchers monitored the participants for the onset of stroke, dementia, or late-life depression.

Participants with the shortest leukocyte telomeres showed a notably higher risk of developing these age-related brain diseases. When combined, these results suggest that individuals with shorter telomeres had an overall 11 percent higher risk of developing at least one of these conditions compared to those with longer telomeres. Specifically:

• Those with the shortest telomeres had an 8 percent higher risk of stroke.
• They were 19 percent more likely to develop dementia.
• Their risk of experiencing late-life depression was 14 percent higher.