Age-Related Human Adaptation to Extreme Climatic Factors and Environmental Conditions

The exposome, which encompasses lifetime environmental exposures, significantly impacts health and can act as a major driving force in accelerating the aging process. While urbanization and climate are among the key exposome factors, the mechanisms that facilitate physiological adaptation to their effects and could potentially extend longevity remain poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to identify aging-associated biomarkers influenced by environmental exposures by comparing hematological and biochemical parameters from 445 individuals. The cohort comprised residents of an extremely cold climate region and of several cities with a milder climate, representing varying levels of urbanization. Our findings, obtained using the Levine PhenoAge model and machine learning, indicate that living in extreme climatic conditions promotes age acceleration, which is accompanied by decreased blood albumin levels. We also observed a strong positive correlation between age acceleration and the functional parameter of erythrocytes (RDW-CV) across different climatic zones. Within the temperate climate zone, residents of small towns exhibited the slowest age acceleration, highlighting urbanization as a driver of accelerated aging. Our data enhance the understanding of the role of the exposome in aging and could inform strategies for promoting healthy aging and longevity tailored to specific environmental and urban contexts.