Accelerated aging is found to be more common in recently born cohorts and is also associated with increased incidence of early-onset solid tumors, according to a study presented at the 2024 American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. It turned out that it was.
“Multiple types of cancer are becoming increasingly common among young people in the United States and globally,” said Ruiyi Tian, MPH, a graduate student in the lab of Ying Kao, Ph.D., MPH, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “It’s becoming more and more,” he said. “Understanding the factors driving this increase may be key to improving cancer prevention and early detection in young and future generations.”
The researchers hypothesized that increasing biological age, indicative of accelerated aging, may contribute to the onset of early cancers diagnosed in adults younger than 55 years. Chronological age measures how long a person has lived, whereas biological age refers to bodily conditions and physiological processes and is considered changeable.
“Unlike chronological age, biological age can be influenced by factors such as diet, physical activity, mental health, and environmental stressors,” she added. “Accumulating evidence suggests that younger generations may be aging faster than expected, perhaps due to early exposure to a variety of risk factors and environmental insults. However, the impact of accelerated aging on the development of early-onset cancer remains unclear.
To investigate the association between biological age and cancer risk in young people, researchers looked at genetic, lifestyle, health and biological information from 148,724 participants enrolled in the UK Biobank. Examined data including samples. A participant’s biological age was determined by her nine biomarkers found in the blood (albumin, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, C-reactive protein, glucose, mean corpuscular volume, red blood cell distribution width, white blood cell count, lymphocyte ratio) was calculated using. People whose biological age was older than their chronological age were defined as having accelerated aging.
Researchers assessed accelerated aging across birth cohorts and found that people born after 1965 were 17% more likely to experience accelerated aging than those born between 1950 and 1954. I discovered. The researchers found that for every standard deviation increase in accelerated aging, the risk of early-onset lung cancer increased by 42%, the risk of early-onset gastrointestinal cancer increased by 22%, and the risk of early-onset cancer increased by 36%. I discovered. Uterine cancer.
Additionally, researchers found that although accelerated aging did not significantly impact the risk of late-onset lung cancer (diagnosed after age 55), it was associated with a 16% increased risk of late-onset gastrointestinal cancer. I discovered that there is. 23% increased risk of late-onset uterine cancer.
“By examining the relationship between accelerated aging and the risk of early-onset cancer, we provide a new perspective on the common etiology of early-onset cancer,” Tian said. “If our findings are validated, interventions that slow biological aging could provide a new means of cancer prevention, and screening efforts could be tailored to young people who show signs of accelerated aging. This suggests that it may be useful for early detection.
Although the study did not identify specific factors that contribute to accelerated aging, the researchers noted previous research that linked environmental and lifestyle influences as potential causes. Potential causes include lack of physical activity, poor diet, exposure to radiation, air travel, and exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals called PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Increases are also associated with health problems such as thyroid disease, hormonal changes, weight gain, and cancer, among others.
“In the field of aging, it has been known for many years that the aging process accelerates. [are] James Kirkland, the Norver Foundation Professor of Aging Research at the Mayo Clinic, is leading a collaborative study focused on the fundamental mechanisms of aging and potential clinical interventions to prevent, delay, and treat aging. said James Kirkland, director of the Translational Geroscience Network. related diseases (currently, through this partnership he has over 80 clinical trials underway).
Diabetes, preeclampsia, obesity, and cancer treatments are all associated with accelerated aging in young people, leading to the premature accumulation of senescent cells. Senescent cells are also called “zombie cells.” This is because although the cells no longer divide or die, they continue to secrete compounds that are harmful to surrounding tissues and cells. These zombie cells promote inflammation and increase in number with age.
“When you introduce senescent cells in preclinical models and accelerate the underlying aging process, you accelerate the development of all types of cancer, at least in most models,” Kirkland said.
Life expectancy had been on the rise since the 1980s, but the pandemic hit and the average life expectancy began to decline. According to Kirkland, as life expectancy has increased, the opposite trend has also emerged: “In recent years, life expectancy has increased by three years in the UK. What we call healthy life expectancy has decreased by three years. It is a period in your life when you are healthy, free, independent, and free from pain, disability, and cognitive impairment.
Globally, basic markers of aging are observed in younger populations despite low smoking rates, even when accounting for potential confounders such as obesity. This may suggest that as yet unidentified environmental factors may be involved.
This reversal was observed in the 1950s when pollution controls were implemented, resulting in late observations of cancer during this period. Potential causes of accelerated aging, such as air travel, radiation exposure, and PFAS, need to be further investigated to determine if they are contributing factors.
There is another phenomenon worth mentioning, and the distinction between biological aging and chronological aging is instructive. Some people with younger biological ages Life expectancy is higher in blue zones, live a healthy daily life until the age of 100. These longevity warriors live longer and are healthier than most people, have a positive mindset, are physically active, get enough sleep, have a strong sense of community, develop strong social bonds, and drink water. They often share similar healthy lifestyle habits, such as drinking lots of . Take time to enjoy the little things and eat a diet that focuses on whole foods and avoids processed foods.
“As discussed in this paper and in this presentation, knowing your biological age is not enough. It helps, but if you can’t do anything about it…which we also see in patients, It causes a lot of anxiety,” Kirkland said. “Serious academic research is underway.” [Food and Drug Administration] Regulated clinical trials funded by various government departments and reputable organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. Such a trial is underway. we don’t know the answer yet. ”
