Repeated exposure to heatwaves may accelerate biological aging, according to new research published Aug. 25 in Nature Climate Change.
The study, led by Siyi Chen of the University of Hong Kong, analyzed data from 24,922 adults in Taiwan tracked between 2008 and 2022. Researchers examined how long-term exposure to extreme heat correlated with “biological age acceleration,” measured as the difference between a person’s biological age and their actual chronological age.
Using linear mixed models, the team found that every interquartile increase in cumulative heatwave exposure was linked to a 0.023- to 0.031-year rise in biological age acceleration. While participants showed some gradual adaptation to heat over time, certain groups—manual laborers, rural residents, and communities with fewer air conditioners—were more vulnerable to the negative health effects.
“This study systematically investigated the associations between long-term exposure to heatwaves and aging,” the authors noted. “We found that cumulative exposure had stable and adverse impacts, even as adaptation occurred.”
The findings underscore the importance of targeted public health measures and policies to build resilience against extreme heat, delay aging-related decline, and support healthier aging in vulnerable populations.
