Study finds extreme heat could accelerate aging process

Extreme heat can be particularly dangerous for older adults, putting them at increased risk for heat stroke and death. But could it also affect how DNA functions and accelerate the aging process itself?

A new study, published in the journal Science Advances, suggests it could. The analysis looked at more than 3,600 older adults in the U.S. and found that those living in neighborhoods prone to extreme heat. Classified as 90 degrees or above, showed more accelerated aging at a molecular level compared with those in areas less prone to extreme heat. The findings suggest heat waves and rising temperatures from climate change could be chemically modifying people’s DNA and speeding up their biological aging.

The study estimates a person living in an area that reached 90 degrees or above for 140 days or more in a year could age up to 14 months faster. Faster than someone in an area with fewer than 10 extreme heat days a year.

Dr. Amit Shah, a geriatrician at the Mayo Clinic Arizona, joined “Arizona Horizon” to talk about the study and what this could mean for older adults living in Arizona.

“The study was done on epigenetic clocks. We know genetics, the genes you are born with, but they’re modified by the environment like epigenetics. We can see with a drop of blood or looking at somebody what’s the DNA like. For example, a smoker might have a lot of epigenetic changes that show they changed more,” said Dr. Amit Shah.

“People look at this for lifestyle-oriented things and heat we can add to the list. Exposure to extreme heat may age us at an epigenetic level,” said Dr. Amit Shah.

How is extreme heat defined?

Dr. Amit Shah describes extreme heat as in this particular study they did, extreme heat was defined as 90 to 104 degrees, 104 to 124, and extreme danger which was 124 above.