Heatwaves make you age faster, new research warns

Long-term exposure to extreme heat comparable to effect of smoking, poor diet

- BY ALEX ABRAHAM Senior Associate Editor

Repeated exposure to heatwaves is accelerating biological ageing in humans, according to a new study. The research, published in Nature Climate Change, indicates that the impact of heatwaves on ageing is comparable to the effects of smoking, alcohol consumption, poor diet, or lack of exercise.

The study analysed data from nearly 25,000 adults in Taiwan over a 15-year period, examining the relationship between heatwave exposure and biological age — a measure of overall health determined through medical tests assessing blood pressure, inflammation, cholesterol, and organ function.