A new study is calling into question how the risk from extreme temperatures has been measured so far for older age groups. According to the research, people over 60 may enter a serious danger zone much earlier than previous studies had calculated.
Risk begins earlier for people over 60
The study, published in The Lancet Public Health, says older adults may face dangerous heat stress even in a scenario where global temperatures rise by only 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
According to the authors, this threshold is significantly lower than the one often used for younger age groups, raising doubts that previous assessments may have underestimated the real risk for older people.
Why older bodies cope worse with heat
As people age, the body has a harder time cooling itself naturally. People sweat less, the heart faces greater strain, and blood vessels do not widen as efficiently during high temperatures.
This means heatwaves are not simply a seasonal discomfort, but can become a direct threat to health, especially during prolonged days of extreme temperatures.
Older studies may have left out the most at-risk group
According to the researchers, some earlier calculations for dangerous temperatures were based mainly on young people and then also applied to older adults. This, the study says, may be where a significant underestimation of risk lies.
Experts argue that younger adults may face dangerous heat stress around the 4°C level of global warming, while for older adults this risk may appear as early as 1.5°C.
Health consequences and the most exposed groups
When the body can no longer lower its temperature effectively, the risk of dehydration, collapse and worsening of existing illnesses increases. On the front line are older adults with heart problems, kidney disease or other chronic conditions.
The study warns that every additional degree of global warming is expected to significantly increase the number of people exposed to prolonged periods of uncompensable heat stress.
Growing risk also driven by population ageing
The pressure is linked not only to rising temperatures, but also to the growing number of people over 60 worldwide. According to the study, this age group is expected to reach around 2.1 billion by 2050.
The consequences, experts say, could be stronger in low- and middle-income countries, where the ability to protect against extreme temperatures is more limited. If global warming continues to accelerate, some tropical and subtropical areas could become increasingly difficult to live in, especially for older adults.
The message emerging from the study is direct: heatwaves must be treated as a serious public health risk, not just as a weather event.
Against this backdrop, older adults appear to be the group paying the highest cost of a climate crisis that is accelerating.