In the field of health, a recent discovery is arousing the interest of researchers and experts to understand why certain cancers are on the increase in young adults: the link with accelerated biological aging. Aging is a major risk factor for many types of cancer, meaning that the older you get, the higher the risk of developing cancer. However, it is now recognized that there is more to age than the number of candles on a birthday cake. It is also the wear and tear on the body caused by lifestyle, stress and genetics, which is sometimes called a person’s biological age.
Dr. Yin Cao, associate professor of surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, points out that cancer, traditionally considered a disease of old age, is now increasingly affecting younger people . This development raises the question of whether the well-established concept of biological age can be applied to the younger generation, thereby opening new avenues of research.
To learn more about this potential link between accelerated aging and cancer risk, Dr. Cao and his team examined the medical records of 148,724 participants aged 37 to 54, part of a large data registry called the UK Biobank. They focused on nine blood markers known to correlate with biological age:
These nine values were fed into an algorithm called PhenoAge, used to calculate each person’s biological age. The researchers determined accelerated aging by comparing participants’ biological age to their chronological age. By cross-referencing this data with cancer registries, they found that people born in 1965 or later had a 17% greater chance of experiencing accelerated aging compared to those born between 1950 and 1954.
The study found an association between accelerated aging and an increased risk of cancer, with particularly strong links for cancers of the lung, stomach and intestinal system, as well as the cervix. People with accelerated aging had a higher risk of developing these cancers compared to those with slower aging.
However, the researchers acknowledge the limitations of their study, including the limited follow-up time of participants and the taking of only one blood sample. To obtain more precise results, it would be necessary to follow individuals over a longer period and take regular blood samples. Additionally, additional studies in more diverse populations are needed to better understand the effects of social factors related to racial discrimination on aging and cancer risk..
The implications of this research are promising, offering the prospect of identifying people at risk of developing cancer at an early age and implementing appropriate early interventions. By targeting individuals whose cells age more quickly, it would be possible to recommend lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise and sleep to reduce this risk. Additionally, drugs targeting accelerated aging could be considered to prevent the development of cancers in survivors.
This study highlights the importance of understanding the link between accelerated biological aging and cancer risk, paving the way for new prevention and treatment strategies for a disease that increasingly affects young adults.