Midlife is a sensitive biological window where the body becomes more susceptible to age-related stressors, which may explain why this group responds more strongly to chemical exposure. We suspect that men may be at higher risk because the aging markers we analysed are heavily influenced by lifestyle factors such as smoking, which can compound the damaging effects of these pollutants.
Researchers used what's known as the biobehavioral aging clock framework to quantify biobehavioral age gaps (BBAGs), by using artificial intelligence (AI) models trained on thousands of health and behavioral profiles. These models can predict a person's biological age based on physical markers such as hypertension, diabetes, sleep problems, and sensory loss, as well as protective factors including education, cognition, functional ability, and physical activity.
when my cardiologist friend-the one who runs marathons and tracks his heart rate variability like it's the stock market-turned to me and said, "You know who's going to live longest? You." I laughed. Actually laughed. "Seth, you're literally the picture of health. You've got perfect labs. You eat salmon and blueberries. I had wine for breakfast." (Kidding. Mostly.) He looked at me with that doctor face, the one that means he's about to tell you something that matters.
Constant sun exposure can spur on wrinkles and cause spotting on your skin. But research suggests it's the heat - not just the rays - that can cause even more, initially less visible, damage: biological aging.
