Why are cancer cases getting younger and younger? This reason is really heartbreaking...

Compiled by: Gong Zixin

In recent years

Research data in related fields show

Cancer is becoming younger

Over the past 30 years

Globally, new cancer cases among people under 50 have increased by 79%.

Cancer deaths increased by 27.7%

now

A new study may explain

Why cancer occurs more frequently at an earlier age

Younger generations are aging faster, which could lead to an increased risk of cancer, according to a study released today at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in San Diego.

The researchers found that people born in 1965 or later were 17 percent more likely to experience accelerated aging compared with those born between 1950 and 1954. Among adults under 55, faster aging was associated with a higher risk of early-onset cancer, the findings showed.

"Multiple cancer types are becoming increasingly common among young people around the world," said Ruiyi Tia, a doctoral student and researcher at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. "Understanding the factors driving this increase will be key to improving cancer prevention or early detection in younger and future generations."

For the study, the team analyzed blood data from nearly 149,000 people who participated in the UK Biobank. They used nine biomarkers found in the blood to calculate each person's biological age, or how old a person is based on the participant's physical condition.

The researchers then compared this data with the participants' actual ages and any cancers they had ever developed, based on their dates of birth.

The results of the study found

Individuals with accelerated aging showed higher risks for early-onset lung cancer, early-onset gastrointestinal cancer, and early-onset uterine cancer, with increases of 42%, 22%, and 36%, respectively.

In addition, among older adults, accelerated aging was associated with a 16% increased risk of late-onset gastrointestinal cancer and a 23% increased risk of late-onset uterine cancer.

"By studying the relationship between accelerated aging and early-onset cancer risk, we are providing a new perspective on the common causes of early-onset cancer."

The researchers added: "If confirmed, our findings suggest that interventions to slow biological aging may be a new avenue for cancer prevention, and that screening efforts tailored to younger people who show signs of accelerated aging may help detect cancer earlier."

Next, the team will further investigate why younger people age faster and why this increases their risk of cancer.

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