Heatwave exposure and faster biological aging in a Chinese cohort of older adults
In a Chinese cohort of middle-aged and older adults, greater heatwave exposure in the 12 months before biological age assessment was associated with greater biological age acceleration; mouse data suggested metabolic pathways. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Biological age acceleration was calculated as biological age minus chronological age, with heatwave exposure measured in the 12 months before assessments in 2011 and 2015. [1]
Among 2,318 participants, each additional heatwave event under the strictest definition was associated with 0.531 years higher biological age acceleration. [1]
In aged mice exposed to heatwave conditions, 29 differentially expressed genes were enriched in lipid metabolism and insulin resistance pathways. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Population-based longitudinal cohort study with a difference-in-differences design, plus a mouse gene-expression experiment (abstract).
- Population / context
- 2,318 middle-aged and older adults in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, plus aged mice in a mechanistic experiment.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- July 15, 2026
Heatwave exposure and biological age in CHARLS adults
The study used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, a large population-based cohort in China. It asked whether heatwave exposure is linked to more rapid biological aging in middle-aged and older adults. Biological age was estimated with the Klemera-Doubal method, and biological age acceleration was calculated as biological age minus chronological age. Heatwave exposure during the 12 months before biological age assessments in 2011 and 2015 was quantified using 12 definitions based on different temperature thresholds and durations.
Supporting source [1]
Higher acceleration with more heatwave events and days
Among 2,318 participants (mean age 58.7 years; 46.9% men), greater heatwave exposure was significantly associated with higher biological age acceleration. Under the most stringent definition (at least 4 consecutive days above the 97.5th percentile), each additional heatwave event was associated with 0.531 years higher acceleration (95% CI 0.341 to 0.722), and each additional day with 0.057 years (95% CI 0.037 to 0.076). Associations were stronger among participants with body mass index of at least 23 kg/m², urban residents, and those in southern or subtropical regions. Heatwave exposure was also associated with higher total cholesterol and glycated hemoglobin A1c levels.
Supporting source [1]
Mouse gene data suggest metabolic pathways
To explore possible mechanisms, the researchers profiled gene expression in aged mice exposed to heatwave conditions. Heatwave exposure induced 29 differentially expressed genes enriched in lipid metabolism and insulin resistance pathways. The authors describe this as biological plausibility for the epidemiological associations. The human results are longitudinal associations from a difference-in-differences design, not evidence that heatwaves cause biological aging, and the mouse findings are preclinical.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
This is an abstract; the full text was not reviewed. The human findings are longitudinal associations, not proof of causation. The mouse gene-expression results are preclinical and do not establish human lifespan or aging benefits or harms.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Xu D, Li D, Chen Y, Bai B, Xie S, Gao X, Wang G, Cui S, Zhang W, Bao J, Huang H, Xie B. · europepmc.org · July 15, 2026