Extreme heat accelerates ageing at molecular level, new research

Whatifextreme heatnot only leaves you feeling exhausted butactually makes youage faster?

- EUNYOUNG CHOI

Scientists already know that extreme heat increases the risk of heat stroke, cardiovascular disease, kidney dysfunction and even death. But until now, little research has explored how heat affects biological ageing: the gradual deterioration of cells and tissues that increases the risk of age-related diseases.

New research suggests that long-term exposure to extreme heat may speed up biological ageing at the molecular level, raising concerns about the long-term health risks posed by a warming climate.

Extreme heat's hidden toll on the body My team and I examined blood samples from over 3,600 older adults across the United States. We measured their biological age using epigenetic clocks, which capture DNA modification patterns methylation - that change with age.

DNA methylation refers to chemical modifications to DNA that act like switches to turn genes on and off. Environmental factors can influence these switches and change how genes function, affecting ageing and disease risk over time. Measuring these changes through epigenetic clocks can strongly predict age-related disease risk and lifespan.