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Evidence for age-related differences in heat acclimatisation responsiveness
Sean R Notley1, Robert D Meade1, Ashley P Akerman1
1Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit, School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
Experimental Physiology
|June 28, 2020
Summary
Older adults experience greater benefits from seasonal heat acclimatisation, showing improved evaporative heat loss and reduced body heat storage. This suggests heat acclimatisation may offer significant thermoregulatory advantages with age.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Environmental Health
- Gerontology
Background:
- Seasonal heat acclimatisation enhances heat loss in humans.
- The impact of aging on heat acclimatisation adaptations is not well understood.
- Thermoregulatory function may decline with age, impacting heat tolerance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare seasonal heat acclimatisation effects on thermoregulation in young and older adults.
- To investigate if older adults exhibit greater adaptive responses to heat exposure.
- To assess changes in body heat storage following summer heat exposure in different age groups.
Main Methods:
- 14 young (19-27 years) and 10 older adults (55-72 years) underwent heat exposure tests.
- Thermoregulatory function was assessed before and after summer (post-acclimatisation).
- Direct and indirect calorimetry measured heat exchange and metabolic rate to calculate body heat storage.
Main Results:
- Evaporative heat loss (sweating) increased in both young and older adults after acclimatisation.
- Older adults showed a significant reduction in body heat storage post-acclimatisation, unlike young adults.
- Body heat storage was initially higher in older adults but normalized after acclimatisation.
Conclusions:
- Seasonal heat acclimatisation confers greater thermoregulatory benefits to older adults.
- Heat acclimatisation may mitigate age-related declines in heat tolerance.
- Further research is needed to confirm these findings in larger, controlled studies.
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