Blazing Heat: How Extreme Temperatures Accelerate Biological Ageing

A genetic study by USC researchers has revealed how extreme heat exposure can accelerate biological ageing. By analyzing blood samples and neighborhood temperatures, the study demonstrated significant epigenetic changes in older adults, leading to increased health risks. The findings emphasize the need for targeted public health measures.

A groundbreaking genetic study by the University of Southern California shows that extreme heat exposure may speed up biological ageing in older adults. This research, published in Science Advances, links consistent high temperatures with negative health outcomes, urging a reevaluation of public health policies.

Jennifer Ailshire, a USC professor, notes that older adults face a double threat from heat and humidity as they lose the skin-cooling effect of sweat evaporation. Her findings suggest that individuals in hotter climates, like Phoenix, face accelerated ageing, measured through DNA methylation patterns in over 3,600 adults' blood samples from 2010 to 2016.

Despite differences in lifestyle, the correlation between high temperatures and biological ageing persists, raising awareness about climate impacts on health. This study advocates for specific health interventions and climate policies to counteract the ageing effects of extreme heat exposure.