Karolinska Institutet study links long meal gaps to chronic disease in elderly

A study from the Karolinska Institutet suggests that long gaps between meals may be detrimental to the health of older adults. Researchers analyzed data from 2,981 participants in Stockholm, aged 60 and older, over a period of up to 15 years.

The findings, published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, indicate that individuals with the longest daily meal intervals—between 14 and 24 hours—accumulated chronic diseases more rapidly than those with shorter intervals of 6 to 11.5 hours. This association was particularly pronounced in individuals aged 78 and older.

The study observed a link between longer fasting periods and a faster accumulation of various conditions, specifically cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric diseases, though no such link was found for musculoskeletal diseases. Researchers noted that while fasting research often focuses on younger or middle-aged populations, the health implications may differ significantly for the elderly.