Heatwaves Could Age You Like Smoking or Drinking: Here’s the Science

A new study suggests that repeated exposure to heatwaves can accelerate the body’s biological ageing process, similar to the effects of smoking or alcohol consumption.

Researchers from the University of Hong Kong analysed health data of nearly 25,000 Taiwanese individuals over 14 years, linking participants’ biological markers to the number of heatwaves they were likely exposed to based on their home locations.

Published in Nature Climate Change, the study found a clear association between heatwave exposure and higher biological age scores. Biological age reflects the functional health of cells, tissues, and organs, unlike chronological age, which is simply the passage of time. Shifts between exposure groups corresponded to an increase in biological age of 0.023 to 0.031 years.

The findings highlight heatwave exposure as a significant factor influencing ageing, alongside other lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, smoking, and alcohol. The research emphasizes the health challenges posed by a warming climate.

“Previous studies have shown that heatwaves negatively impact age-related health conditions, particularly in older adults, indicating that ageing may be a modifiable factor in response to extreme heat,” the authors wrote.

“Understanding how heatwaves affect biological ageing can shed light on their health impacts and inform strategies for population adaptation to climate change.”