Cold

5 papers4 findings

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

Against: findings that point the other way from most findings on the same outcome.

No results posted: trials that ended more than a year ago with no results on ClinicalTrials.gov and no paper in ARN’s record.

Company ties: findings with an author at a company, or from a paper whose competing-interests statement declares ties to one.

3 independent labs in 3 countries

Funders: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and 3 more

Humans3
Model organisms1
In silico1

Outcomes

3

Somatic maintenance

downin H. oligactis1

1 study

Cold impairs somatic maintenance in H. oligactis.
“cold-induced stress in H. oligactis is accompanied by a disruption of these pathways, leading to rapid somatic decline”
Reviewcold-induced stress
Conditional Senescence and Longevity Mechanisms in Early-Branching Metazoans: Insights from Hydra
Current issues in molecular biology19 Sep 2026

CKD mortality

upin humans1

1 study

Cold increases CKD mortality in humans (50,617 deaths (6.04%)).
Humansin 2023
Climate-associated burden of chronic kidney disease due to non-optimal temperature in G20 countries: evidence from a multicountry longitudinal study
International journal of biometeorology16 Sep 2026

Lifespan

upin flies1

1 study

Cold extends lifespan in flies.
Model organisms
Age-dependent physiological responses and longevity in three Drosophila species with contrasting lifespans exposed to low temperature and constant darkness
Biogerontology17 Aug 2026

Associations

1

Hospitalization

upin humans1RR 1.11

1 study

Cold raises the risk of hospitalization in humans (RR 1.11 (95% CI 1.07, 1.15)).
Humansfunctionally dependent individuals (Barthel Index <= 60)
Association between ambient temperature and all-cause hospitalization by functional status in Japan: A time-stratified case-crossover study
Environmental epidemiology (Philadelphia, Pa.)7 Aug 2026

Funding

1 grant since 2022

National Institute on AgingUS$747.2k

The confluence of extreme heat and cold on aging and longevity
National Institute on AgingHarvard Medical SchoolUS$747.2k2022–2027

Latest

5 in 12 months

International Journal of Biometeorology16 Sep

Climate-associated burden of chronic kidney disease due to non-optimal temperature in G20 countries: evidence from a multicountry longitudinal study

Cohort study in peopleChronic kidney disease

GeoHealth13 Sep

Impact of Climate Warming on All-Causes Mortality in China: The Role of Non-Optimal Temperature Exposure and Multi-Scenario Projections to 2050

Computational studyPopulations

Environmental Research20 Aug

Beyond heatwaves and cold spells: Long-term exposure to short-duration extremes, behavioural pathways, and hypertension risk in a national Chinese cohort

Cohort study of 8,147 peopleHypertension

Biogerontology17 Aug

Age-dependent physiological responses and longevity in three Drosophila species with contrasting lifespans exposed to low temperature and constant darkness

Experiments in fliesImmune response

Environmental Epidemiology11 Aug

Association between ambient temperature and all-cause hospitalization by functional status in Japan: A time-stratified case-crossover study

Case-control study in peoplePopulations