Connection Between Accelerated Aging and Cancer Risk in Younger Adults Uncovered by Research

Researchers investigating the increase in certain cancers among younger adults have discovered a potential link to accelerated biological aging.

Aging is a significant risk factor for various types of cancer, with the likelihood of diagnosis increasing as individuals grow older. It is now widely acknowledged that age encompasses more than just the number of years lived. Biological age, influenced by lifestyle, stress, and genetics, also plays a crucial role in determining one's overall health.

Dr. Paul O'Rourke's sons, wife and parents visit him during his inpatient stay at Johns Hopkins Hospital after his partial colectomy.

Dr. Paul O'Rourke's sons, wife and parents visit him during his inpatient stay at Johns Hopkins Hospital after his partial colectomy.

Courtesy of Paul O'Rourke

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Colorectal cancer is on the rise among younger adults, prompting some to consider getting colonoscopies earlier in life. Dr. Yin Cao, an associate professor of surgery at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and senior author of a new study, highlighted the shift towards a younger population being affected by cancer. This research, presented at the American Association of Cancer Research’s annual conference in San Diego, explores the possibility of using the concept of biological aging to understand and address this trend.

Factors of biological aging

Cao and her team looked at the medical records of 148,724 people ages 37 to 54 who are participants in a large data registry called the UK Biobank.

They homed in on nine blood-based markers that have been shown to correlate with biological age:

albumin: a protein made by the liver that declines with age

Creatinine is a waste product found in the blood, created through the digestion of protein and the breakdown of muscle tissue. It serves as a measure of kidney function, with lower levels indicating better longevity.

As we age, blood sugar tends to remain elevated for a longer period after meals. This is important to keep in mind when considering overall health and wellness.

The liver produces c-reactive protein in response to inflammation, and higher levels of this protein are associated with faster aging.

As we age, the concentration of lymphocytes, which are white blood cells crucial for immune function, tends to decrease.

Mean cell volume refers to the average size of red blood cells, which typically increases as a person ages.

Red cell distribution width, on the other hand, measures the variation in size between a person's smallest and largest red blood cells, a difference that tends to grow with age.

Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme primarily produced by the liver and bones, and its levels typically increase with age.

Elevated white blood cell counts, which are the numbers of white cells at the higher end of the normal range in the blood, may be associated with the process of aging.

The researchers inputted nine values into an algorithm called PhenoAge to calculate each person's biological age. They identified accelerated aging by comparing biological ages with chronological ages.

Next, they examined cancer registries to determine how many individuals in the group had been diagnosed with early cancers. These were defined as cancers detected before the age of 55. In total, there were almost 3,200 cases of early cancers diagnosed.

The researchers found that people born in 1965 or later were 17% more likely to show accelerated aging than those born from 1950 through 1954.

What faster aging could tell us about cancer risk

After making adjustments for potential biases, the researchers discovered a link between accelerated aging and a higher risk of cancer. Specifically, they found that lung, stomach, intestinal, and uterine cancers showed the strongest associations.

In comparison to individuals with the least amount of accelerated aging in the biobank sample, those with the highest scores were found to have double the risk of early-onset lung cancer, over 60% higher risk of gastrointestinal tumors, and more than an 80% increased risk of uterine cancer.

A shortage of common cancer treatments is causing issues at major U.S. cancer centers. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network found that most centers surveyed in late May 2023 were experiencing a lack of chemotherapies carboplatin and cisplatin. This has led to doctors having to switch medications and delays in patient care.

Gerry Broome/AP

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Cancer diagnosis rates are increasing among younger adults, especially in women and individuals in their 30s, according to a recent study.

The study, led by graduate student Ruiyi Tian, did not aim to explain the reasons behind the connection between certain cancer types and accelerated aging, but Tian has some theories.

Tian suggested that lungs may be more susceptible to aging compared to other tissues due to their limited regenerative capacity. She also mentioned that inflammation, which tends to increase with age, has been associated with stomach and intestinal cancers.

Cao pointed out that the research's strength lies in the large sample size of participants. However, she also admitted that the study has its limitations.

In the study, participants were not tracked over a period of time. The blood test results were based on a single test, providing only a momentary glimpse of risk that could fluctuate. To obtain a more precise understanding of their risk, researchers ideally would follow the same group for several years, collecting blood samples regularly.

Cao mentioned that the best-case scenario would involve multiple blood collections over the course of a lifetime, but this is not practical even in extensive biobanks like the UK Biobank.

Dr. Anne Blaes, a researcher at the University of Minnesota focusing on the effects of biological aging in cancer survivors, expressed the importance of testing the association in diverse populations. This is crucial in order to shed more light on the impact of social factors related to racial discrimination.

She highlighted the significance of the study findings as they could lead to a more effective way of identifying individuals who are at a higher risk of developing cancer at a young age. Currently, young adults without a family history or other risk factors are not regularly screened for most types of cancer.

"We are observing a rise in cancers, particularly gastrointestinal and breast cancers, among younger people. Identifying those at a higher risk could lead to recommending screenings at a different time," stated Blaes, a professor and director of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UM medical school. She was not part of the recent study.

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According to Blaes, identifying individuals with cells that are aging faster can help tailor lifestyle interventions such as improving nutrition, increasing exercise, and prioritizing sleep.

Blaes, who is currently studying two medications in cancer survivors, mentioned that there are drugs that seem to have the potential to slow down accelerated aging. It is common for cancer survivors to experience increased biological aging, which could be attributed to the lingering effects of treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.

These medications are categorized as senolytics, a type of drugs designed to specifically target and eliminate damaged and aging cells.

At the moment, it is uncertain who could benefit from these drugs. However, tools like PhenoAge, which evaluate accelerated aging, have the potential to guide doctors towards those who may benefit the most in the future.

According to Blaes, the current stage of research is fascinating. While it is not yet the right time to start prescribing these medications widely, the work being done is incredibly significant.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the alarming trend of increasing cancer incidence among younger adults and explores the potential link between accelerated biological aging and this trend. The study reveals that individuals born in 1965 or later exhibit a 17% higher likelihood of accelerated aging compared to those born between 1950 and 1954. This accelerated aging is associated with an elevated risk of early-onset lung, stomach, intestinal, and uterine cancers.

The implications of these findings are significant, as they suggest the need for a paradigm shift in cancer screening and prevention strategies. Currently, young adults without a family history or other risk factors are not routinely screened for most types of cancer. However, the study's findings indicate that accelerated aging may serve as a valuable indicator of cancer risk, potentially leading to earlier detection and better outcomes. Moreover, the development of senolytic drugs, which target and eliminate damaged and aging cells, holds promise for mitigating the effects of accelerated aging and reducing cancer risk.