Extreme Heat May Be Even More Dangerous to Older Adults Than We Thought

Key Points:

• Recent heatwaves across Europe and the U.S. have likely caused thousands of deaths, predominantly among older adults, highlighting their vulnerability to extreme heat.
• A new study in The Lancet Planetary Health reveals that older adults face significantly higher heat exposure risks at lower global warming levels compared to younger populations, with dangerous heat occurring more frequently and over larger areas.
• By 2050, the population aged 60 and over is expected to double to 2.1 billion, mostly in low- and middle-income countries, increasing the number of people vulnerable to heat-related health risks as global temperatures rise.
• The study found that accounting for age-specific heat tolerance more than doubles the number of people exposed to dangerous heat for extended periods, with older adults comprising the majority of this at-risk group.
• Findings raise concerns about the habitability of tropical and subtropical regions, where older adults could endure near-constant dangerous heat for months under high warming scenarios, underscoring the urgent need for targeted adaptation strategies.