A new study warns that extreme heat driven by climate change is rapidly aging populations worldwide. Analyzing 15 years of Taiwanese health data, researchers found that just two years of heat wave exposure can accelerate biological aging by 8-12 days. For manual workers spending more time outdoors, aging sped up by 33 days. While heat spikes deaths, this is one of the first studies on its long-term effects. The researchers noted that older adults and those lacking air conditioning age faster under extreme temperatures. A global problem, the 2024 record-breaking heat wave caused 41 extra days of extreme heat worldwide. The study defined heat waves as periods of abnormally high temperatures triggering official warnings, considering overall heat exposure. Factors like weight, smoking, and pre-existing conditions were also assessed. (UPI)
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