Aging and Disease Risk Linked to Early Exposure to Tobacco: Study Finds Biological Impact of In-Utero and Childhood Smoking on Health

A study published in the journal Science Advances has shed new light on the impact of tobacco exposure on human aging and disease risk. Researchers from Chinese and British universities analyzed blood samples from 276,000 individuals from the United Kingdom Biobank to understand the effects of tobacco exposure on chronological and biological aging.

The study found that individuals exposed to tobacco in utero were biologically older by 0.49 years and had shorter telomeres, which are linked to aging. Those who started smoking in childhood (ages 5-14) were biologically older by 2.51 years and had significantly shorter telomeres.

The combination of exposure to tobacco in the womb and smoking in childhood resulted in individuals being biologically older by 2.89 years. The researchers emphasize the importance of quitting smoking early to resist biological aging and prevent related diseases, regardless of genetic background.

Early exposure to tobacco can accelerate the onset of chronic diseases such as lung diseases, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, increasing the risk of premature death. Quitting smoking at an early age can help prevent the accelerated aging associated with tobacco exposure and reduce the risk of these related diseases.

Overall, this study highlights the negative effects of tobacco exposure on human health and underscores the importance of quitting smoking early to promote healthy aging and reduce disease risk.