COVID-19 Causes Long Term Hormonal Disruptions That Contributes to Accelerated Aging!
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jul 06, 2025 6 hours, 48 minutes ago
Medical News: COVID-19 Triggers Long-Term Ageing by Disrupting Key Hormones and Growth Factors
A new study by researchers from the University of Campinas in Brazil has uncovered alarming biological changes in patients who have recovered from severe COVID-19. These changes involve significant and persistent reductions in certain hormones and growth factors that are essential for healthy ageing and bodily repair.
COVID-19 Causes Long Term Hormonal Disruptions That Contributes to Accelerated Aging!
According to this
Medical News report, the team found that these alterations can still be detected more than a year after a patient has recovered from severe COVID-19. This has led experts to raise concerns that the virus may induce a form of premature ageing in survivors.
Who Conducted the Research
The study was conducted by a multidisciplinary team from several departments at the University of Campinas in São Paulo, Brazil, including the School of Nursing, the Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center (OCRC), and the Faculty of Medical Sciences. The lead authors include Alice Cuchi-Cabral, André C. Palma, Guilherme A. Nogueira, Henrique Ceretta Oliveira, Suzimar F. Benato Fusco, Maria L. Moretti, Licio A. Velloso, and Eliana P. Araujo.
Understanding the Study and Its Importance
The researchers followed 49 patients who had previously been hospitalized with severe COVID-19. These individuals were compared to 28 healthy individuals who had never contracted the virus. The scientists measured the blood levels of key hormones and growth factors at two points in time—six months and fifteen months after the patients recovered.
The substances analyzed included growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), oxytocin, ghrelin, fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). These molecules are critical for cell repair, metabolism, brain health, and ageing processes.
Major Findings of the Study
The results were striking. Four major growth factors and hormones—GH, IGF-1, BDNF, and PDGF—were significantly lower in the blood of recovered COVID-19 patients compared to the healthy control group. Even after fifteen months of recovery, the levels of these important molecules had not returned to normal.
-GH and IGF-1: Both are part of the same biological system responsible for regulating growth, metabolism, and tissue repair. Their persistent reduction suggests that severe COVID-19 may damage this axis long-term.
-BDNF: This is a key brain molecule that supports the survival of existing neurons and encourages the growth of new ones. Its long-term decrease could explain the cognitive decline and memory issues seen in many long COVID patients.
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-PDGF: Known for its role in cell regeneration and repair, reduced PDGF may leave tissues vulnerable to damage and slow the body’s ability to heal.
Interestingly, levels of insulin, NGF, oxytocin, and ghrelin remained largely unchanged. TGF-β showed a decline at the six-month mark but stabilized afterward, while FGF-1 remained unaffected throughout the entire period.
Why These Hormones Matter for Ageing
Each of the molecules found to be reduced plays a role in slowing or reversing ageing-related damage.
-GH and IGF-1 are well-known anti-ageing hormones, with reduced levels linked to frailty, fatigue, and metabolic problems in elderly individuals.
-BDNF is essential for brain plasticity and mental clarity. Lower levels are associated with Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline.
-PDGF is a powerful agent for repairing tissue and is often used in anti-ageing and regenerative treatments.
The combined reduction in these substances may create an environment in the body that mirrors the internal chemistry of a much older person, even if the individual is relatively young.
Possible Link to Pituitary and Brain Damage
The study also supports a theory that COVID-19 may affect the hypothalamus and pituitary gland—two brain regions responsible for regulating many hormones. Inflammation during the acute phase of infection may disrupt these areas, leading to long-term endocrine imbalances.
In particular, the persistent suppression of GH and IGF-1 suggests damage to this critical axis. These kinds of imbalances are similar to those seen in older adults or individuals with endocrine disorders and may lead to symptoms such as fatigue, muscle loss, poor concentration, and weakened immune responses.
Implications for COVID-19 Survivors
These findings carry serious implications. If COVID-19 can permanently alter hormone levels in a way that mimics or accelerates ageing, millions of survivors may face a future marked by earlier onset of age-related diseases, cognitive problems, and reduced life expectancy.
While more studies are needed to understand if these hormonal shifts are reversible or can be treated, the research highlights the need for long-term monitoring and support for those recovering from severe COVID-19.
Doctors may eventually screen post-COVID patients for these key hormone levels, allowing early interventions such as hormone therapy, lifestyle changes, or nutritional support to slow down any pro-ageing effects.
Conclusions and What Lies Ahead
This groundbreaking study reveals that COVID-19 may not simply be an acute illness—it could mark the beginning of a long-term health decline resembling premature ageing. With significantly reduced levels of GH, IGF-1, BDNF, and PDGF even fifteen months after recovery, the evidence suggests a persistent biological shift in the body’s ageing regulators.
The study underscores the importance of follow-up care for COVID-19 survivors and opens the door to new therapeutic possibilities. Researchers and clinicians must now investigate how to reverse or manage these hormonal disruptions and whether these findings can be generalized to those who had milder forms of COVID-19.
For the general public and healthcare professionals alike, this research offers a sobering reminder that the long-term consequences of COVID-19 may only be starting to reveal themselves. These biological changes may explain many of the lingering symptoms seen in long COVID and could help guide the development of targeted treatments to support recovery and prevent premature ageing.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Diseases
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/7/209
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