Epidemiologists Reveal Extreme Heat Can Accelerate Aging

Extreme heat doesn't just make the body easily tired and susceptible to dehydration. A new study finds that this condition can accelerate biological aging in humans.

Unlike chronological age, biological age reflects how well cells and organs are functioning. Biological age can be determined through various medical tests, such as lung function, cognitive ability, or bone density.

According to wired.com, a study published in Nature Climate Change shows that exposure to extreme heat can weaken the body's systems. This increases the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and even dementia in the long term.

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The study analyzed medical data from 24,922 people in Taiwan from 2008 to 2022. The results showed that exposure to heat waves accelerated biological age compared to chronological age.

On average, two years of heat wave exposure increased biological age by eight to 12 days. "This effect is small but has significant implications for public health," said Cui Guo, an environmental epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong and lead author of the study.

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The study also found that physical laborers and rural populations are more susceptible to accelerated biological aging. However, a positive trend is emerging, as the impact of heat on aging has decreased over the past 15 years.

Experts suspect this decline is due to the widespread use of cooling technologies such as air conditioning. Nevertheless, researchers emphasize the need for public awareness of the impact of extreme heat on health.