People may age faster if their dad smoked during puberty

Summary

Monday 29 September, 2025 – Amsterdam, Netherlands: People whose fathers smoked during puberty seem to age faster than expected, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands [1]. The researchers found signs of faster biological ageing, compared to chronological age, in people whose fathers began smoking at age 15 or younger. They say smoking during puberty may create damage in boys’ developing sperm cells that can be passed on to their children. The researchers call for stronger efforts to prevent tobacco use in teenagers, not only to benefit the current generation but also future generations. The study was presented by Dr Juan Pablo López-Cervantes from the University of Bergen, Norway. He said: “Our research group has previously shown that smoking during puberty may harm not only the person who smokes, but also their future children. In this new study, we wanted to explore whether parental smoking in puberty may also influence the biological ageing of their future children.” The researchers did this using a well-established measure of biological ageing known as epigenetic clocks. As we age, extra molecules accumulate on the DNA in our cells. This does not alter the DNA code, but it does influence how our genes behave. These so-called epigenetic changes are not only a sign of ageing, they are also linked to diseases of older age such as cancer and dementia. The research included a group of 892 people, ranging in chronological age from 7 to 50 years and with an average age of 28, who were taking part in the RHINESSA study [2] and provided blood samples for testing. Their blood samples were analysed for epigenetic changes, then researchers applied three different scores of biological ageing. They were also asked a series of questions, including whether they or their parents had ever smoked and at what age. The researchers found that people whose fathers began smoking during puberty were around nine m...