Heat accelerates aging

The increase in the average temperature on the planet threatens not only abnormal heat, but also serious health consequences. Long stay in a hot climate leads to accelerated aging of the body, scientists from the University of Southern California have found out. Their work was published in the journal Science Advances.

Analysis of the data showed that people living in regions with more hot days have a biological age higher than peers from cooler places. Biological age is a measure of the state of the body at the cellular level, and can differ from the number of years a person has lived. The higher the biological age, the higher the risks of disease and premature death.

The link between heat and accelerated aging was found by observing more than 3,600 Americans over the age of 56. For six years they took blood samples and analyzed changes in DNA. It turned out that epigenetic changes associated with aging occur faster in hot areas.

This trend is especially noticeable in places with long periods of heat. For example, residents of Phoenix, where the temperature exceeds 32°C half of the year, age on average 14 months faster than people from cooler regions. And this happens regardless of lifestyle, income level or health status.

The study also found that the effects of heat on aging can show up as early as a week after extremely high temperatures. Some changes accumulate and over time lead to systemic deterioration of the body.

Older people are particularly vulnerable to the effects of heat. With age, the body loses the ability to cool itself effectively, as the work of sweat glands deteriorates. Humidity also plays an important role: the higher the humidity, the less chance of cooling down naturally.

New findings on the effects of temperature on biological aging may influence approaches to urban planning. Proper landscaping, increasing shady areas, installing awnings at public transportation stops and other measures can help reduce the strain on the body during the hot season.

The researchers plan to find out what additional factors may increase the effect of heat on aging and what measures will minimize this effect. In the context of global warming, such knowledge becomes especially relevant.