Taiwan Study Finds Heatwaves Accelerate Biological Ageing

A large-scale study conducted in Taiwan has found that repeated exposure to heatwaves may accelerate biological ageing, with measurable effects emerging even over relatively short periods. An analysis of nearly 25,000 adults followed for 15 years showed that accumulating heatwave days correlated with an increase in biological age—an indicator of overall health and disease risk—comparable to well-known lifestyle factors such as smoking or excessive alcohol use. The researchers report that four additional heatwave days over a two-year window were associated with an average nine-day uptick in biological age, with the impact most pronounced among outdoor workers, rural residents, and communities with limited access to air conditioning.

The study calculated biological age using routine medical markers, including measures of inflammation, blood pressure, and organ function, and then compared this to each person’s chronological age while accounting for variables such as weight, smoking, exercise, and preexisting conditions. Cumulative heat exposure emerged as the strongest predictor of accelerated ageing. While some adaptation to heat was observed over the study period, the ageing...