Heatwaves accelerate ageing study

Exposure to repeated heatwaves is linked to faster ageing, signaling broad health risks and policy questions.

Heatwaves Accelerate Ageing Worldwide

A study followed 25,000 adults in Taiwan over 15 years to test whether heatwaves speed ageing. Researchers compared heatwave days with biological age, a broad health measure. They found that four or more heatwave days in two years raised biological age by about nine days, with manual workers showing a 33 day increase.

Biological age was measured through tests on blood pressure, inflammation, cholesterol and organ function. The study notes that the global impact could be large because heatwaves affect many people and higher biological age links to higher death risk. Limitations include that participants were part of a paid health plan and the data did not include time spent outdoors or exact air conditioner use, so more research is needed. The researchers also noted fossil fuel burning reached record levels in 2024.

The finding puts heat exposure in a long term health frame. It suggests health systems may see more people aging faster, especially outdoor workers. It also raises questions about city planning, cooling access, and worker protections.

If ageing can be accelerated by heat, then protecting outdoor workers and ensuring affordable cooling becomes urgent. The result calls for coordinated action across climate, energy and health policy.

Highlights

A hotter world demands smarter protection for health.