:quality(75)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/elcomercio/FQDFNKG5N5FTVNVTNASELXWJRA.jpg)
A recent study published in the journal Science Advances has shed light on the impact of tobacco exposure during pregnancy and early childhood on aging and disease. Researchers from Chinese and British universities analyzed blood samples from over 276,000 people in the United Kingdom Biobank to examine the effects of tobacco exposure on both chronological and biological aging.
The study found that people exposed to tobacco in utero were older than their chronological age by 0.26 years and their biological age by 0.49 years, with shorter telomeres. Those who smoked in childhood were even older than their chronological age by 0.88 years and their biological age by 2.51 years, with significantly shorter telomeres.
Individuals who were exposed to tobacco in the womb and smoked in childhood showed the most accelerated biological aging, being 1.13 years older than their chronological age and 2.89 years older than their biological age. The researchers emphasize the importance of quitting smoking early to resist aging and prevent related diseases.
The study highlights the increased risk of chronic diseases and death associated with smoking, suggesting that exposure to tobacco in early life accelerates the onset of various health issues. This underscores the importance of avoiding tobacco exposure during pregnancy and childhood to maintain health and longevity.
In conclusion, this research provides evidence that smoking not only affects our health but also accelerates aging at a cellular level. It is crucial for individuals to understand these risks early on so they can make informed decisions about their lifestyle choices to promote healthy aging and prevent related diseases later in life.
