Researchers claim that boys who started smoking at 15 or younger have children with a higher "biological age" Poppy Koronka, health correspondent
If you're aging faster than your peers, your father may be the cause—especially if he smoked as a teenager.
Research suggests that smoking among boys aged 15 and younger may damage developing sperm – causing their children to age “faster” than expected.
The study examined “epigenetic clocks” in 892 people from various European countries and Australia, aged 7 to 50. The participants gave blood samples and answered questions, including whether they or their parents had smoked, and if so, when.
The blood samples were analyzed for epigenetic changes to measure biological age. Extra molecules accumulate in the DNA of cells as we age, and the team analyzed these changes using three different methods of measuring biological aging.
Participants whose fathers started smoking during puberty had a biological age that was about nine to twelve months higher than their actual age. The difference increased to 14–15 months if the person themselves had smoked.
Among those whose fathers started smoking later in life, researchers at the University of Bergen found a much smaller increase in biological age. No significant difference was found if the mother smoked before pregnancy.
The study was presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam. Dr. Juan Pablo Lopez-Cervantes said: “Our research group has previously shown that smoking during puberty can harm not only the smoker but also their future children. In this new study, we wanted to investigate whether parental smoking during puberty can also affect the biological aging of their children.”
He added: "Accelerated biological aging is important because it has been linked to increased risk of diseases such as cancer, arthritis and dementia. Our results suggest that boys who smoke during puberty may be unknowingly harming their future children."
The researchers believe that smoking at a young age can alter the quality of developing sperm. "Although this research is still in its early stages, we believe the findings are important for young boys who smoke or use other nicotine products. Stronger measures to prevent tobacco use among youth should be a priority for policymakers. Such measures could benefit both current and future generations."