Summary
A new study in Science Advances finds that prolonged heat exposure accelerates aging at the molecular level, similar to smoking and drinking.
Researchers analyzed DNA from 3,600 older adults and found those in hotter areas, like Phoenix, aged 14 months faster than those in cooler places.
Heat-induced “epigenetic aging” increases risks for diseases like dementia and heart problems. Climate change is worsening heat exposure, especially for older adults, further straining health systems.
Scientists aim to study how indoor heat affects health and explore ways to mitigate long-term damage.
Is it heat or is it UV radiation? Does extreme heat in controlled environments (like saunas) cause the same epigenetic damage?
From the discussion of the paper it looks like it’s just a correlation. They didn’t check for ac use, time spent outdoors (or uv exposure), activity levels (perhaps heat = less physical activity) etc.