A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Miami School of Medicine in the United States revealed that the number of colon cancer cases could increase among people under the age of 50, due to the rise in rates of “accelerated aging – biological aging.” The results of the study were published in the journal Cancer Research on December 10.
Unlike chronological age, which is simply calculated by the number of years a person has lived, biological age is based on physiological markers that reflect the influence of genetics, lifestyle choices, and environmental factors, and can be determined through a complex DNA analysis process.
Accelerated aging occurs in people whose biological age is greater than their actual age, as a result of a lifestyle such as an unhealthy diet, and surrounding environmental factors such as exposure to chemicals.
Colon cancer and biological age
Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer worldwide according to the World Health Organization, accounting for approximately 10% of all cancer cases, and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.
Symptoms of colorectal cancer often do not appear in its early stages, and it is important to undergo regular examinations to detect the disease early and begin treatment.
The researchers studied people under the age of fifty who underwent colonoscopy, and they calculated their biological ages by analyzing blood samples. Colonoscopy is a procedure through which the doctor examines the entire interior of the colon.
They found that each year of accelerated aging was associated with a 16% increased risk of developing polyps. These polyps are small growths that grow in the colon that can lead to colon cancer later.
While the surprise was that other risk factors commonly associated with colon cancer, such as body fat percentage and smoking rate, were not linked to the disease and did not affect it.
A body of research suggests that accelerated aging is becoming more common, even as life expectancy continues to increase.
“Aging is multifaceted, and we need more and broader studies to determine whether biological age matches the actual age of most individuals,” said Dr. Shreya Kumar, a colorectal cancer specialist and researcher involved in the study, according to EurekAlert.
Generation Z
Shreya added, “It is surprising that many studies, including ours, have found that biological age provides distinct health information that can help us prevent cancer.” This discovery comes amid the global outbreak and widespread colon cancer among younger patients, which has baffled doctors.
Interestingly, the researchers participating in the study said that there is “strong evidence” that the risk of accelerated aging, and thus cancer, increases with each successive generation born after 1965.
This may mean that Generation Z – those born between 1997 and 2012 who are now adults – may be at greater risk of developing diseases at a younger age than their parents or grandparents.
Early detection
Recent findings suggest that while the disease is more common among people over 50, it has increased by 50% among younger age groups over the past three decades.
Health officials in the United States recommend regular screening for colorectal cancer starting at the age of 45 years, while some doctors recommend screening for those who are younger, because half of the cases of early colorectal cancer occur in people under the age of 45 years, according to The latest statistics from the National Cancer Institute in the United States.
There are currently several ways to screen for colon cancer, including stool sample tests.
But colonoscopy, a procedure that requires anesthesia in a hospital, remains the gold standard for detecting the disease.
During a colonoscopy, the doctor identifies and removes polyps – which 30% of people have – and prevents the formation of cancers.
Dr. Kumar added, “I think the interesting aspect about the opportunity offered by colorectal cancer screening is that it is clearly a preventative tactic. Colonoscopy is not only intended for early detection, but it also helps prevent cancer.”
Now, researchers want to find out which people are most likely to experience accelerated aging and start prioritizing them for colonoscopies.
The cost of tests to determine people’s biological age ranges between $100-1000, according to the British newspaper The Daily Mail, and their results may be inaccurate, and the reason linking accelerated aging to colon cancer in particular is not fully understood.
However, some of the factors that increase a person’s risk of early colorectal cancer also increase biological age, and these factors include poor diets, including diets rich in ultra-processed foods, obesity, smoking, and other poor lifestyle and habits.
Environmental pollution and stress are other major factors that lead to accelerated aging.