Associations between short-term temperature variability and DNA methylation aging: Evidence from a population-based...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Genetics
• Chronobiology

Background:

• Climate change impacts temperature variability, affecting human health.
• The relationship between temperature variability and biological aging is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between short-term temperature variability and DNA methylation age.
• To explore how different temperature variability indices and seasonal factors influence biological aging.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 2,084 Taiwan Biobank participants (2008-2016).
• Assessed temperature variability using six indices (diurnal temperature range, temperature change, temperature variability) for ambient temperature and heat index (HI).
• Employed Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) to analyze age acceleration (DNA methylation age vs. chronological age).

Main Results:

• Both low and high temperature variability were significantly associated with increased age acceleration (0.1–4.2 years).
• Associations remained significant after adjusting for mean ambient temperature.
• Stronger associations were observed during warm seasons and when using the heat index, suggesting humidity exacerbates the effect.

Conclusions:

• Short-term temperature variability is a significant factor associated with accelerated biological aging.
• Environmental temperature fluctuations, especially under humid conditions during warmer seasons, may impact epigenetic aging.