Why Does My Child Look Older? Study Finds "Father's Early Smoking" Accelerates Aging

Potential Health Risks for the Next Generation from Adolescent Smoking

A study has found that if a father began smoking before the age of 15, his child’s biological aging process is accelerated by about one year compared to those whose fathers did not start smoking so early.

Image of cigarettes to aid understanding of the article. Photo by Asia Economy DB

On September 29 (local time), Dr. Juan Pablo Lopez-Cervantes and his research team from the University of Bergen in Norway presented their findings at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The study analyzed the correlation between adolescent smoking in fathers and aging in their children.

The research involved 892 participants aged 7 to 50 (average age 28) who took part in the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe, Spain, and Australia (RHINESSA) study. The team investigated both the participants’ and their parents’ smoking status and age at smoking initiation, and analyzed epigenetic changes through blood samples. They then applied a biological aging measurement method known as the “epigenetic clock” to compare biological age with actual age.

Adolescent Smoking in Fathers Linked to Accelerated Aging in Children

The analysis showed that children whose fathers began smoking before the age of 15 had a biological age that was, on average, 9 months to 1 year older than their actual age. Notably, if both the father started smoking during adolescence and the child also smoked, the difference increased to 14 to 15 months. In contrast, if the father started smoking as an adult, the difference was minimal. The study also found no significant association between a mother’s smoking before pregnancy and accelerated aging in her children.

Dr. Lopez-Cervantes explained, “While this study does not fully explain the link between adolescent smoking and accelerated aging, it appears that epigenetic changes occur in sperm cells when fathers start smoking during adolescence, and these changes may be passed on to the next generation.” He added, “Boys who smoke during adolescence may unknowingly harm their future children. Policymakers must make the prevention of youth smoking a top priority.”

Meanwhile, according to the “2024 Youth Health Behavior Survey” released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the smoking rate among Korean adolescents is 4.8% for boys and 2.4% for girls. Although this is a significant decrease compared to 2005 (14.3% for boys and 8.9% for girls), the proportion of “dual users” who use both e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products is increasing. As the age at which adolescents begin smoking continues to decrease, there is a growing need to strengthen measures to prevent youth smoking.