Brief
Study links childhood exposures to faster biological ageing by age 22
University of Jyväskylä researchers say early-life exposures account for about a quarter of biological age differences at 22.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland report that biological ageing may begin to accelerate in early adulthood, with childhood and adolescent lifestyle and environmental exposures explaining roughly 28% of the variation in epigenetic age at 22, according to Gulf News.
The team analysed data from a longitudinal twin study, applying machine‑learning models to 186 measured exposures, including air pollution, surrounding greenness, sociodemographic conditions and personal lifestyle factors. They found that these early‑life exposures together accounted for about 28% of the differences in biological age among 22‑year‑olds.
The researchers note that biological age can diverge from chronological age and that faster ageing is linked to earlier onset of age‑related diseases. Their findings suggest that both genetics and the environments in which children grow up shape the pace of ageing, highlighting the potential long‑term health impact of early‑life conditions.
Key facts
- Biological ageing may accelerate as early as young adulthood. (gulfnews.com)
- Childhood and adolescent exposures explain about 28% of epigenetic age variation at 22. (gulfnews.com)
- The study examined 186 lifestyle and environmental factors using twin data. (gulfnews.com)
- Faster biological ageing is associated with higher risk of early age‑related diseases. (gulfnews.com)
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “Biological Ageing May Accelerate Before 22: Study Reveals Key Lifestyle and Environmental Factors”
