Rapid Biological Aging Linked to Rising Cancer Cases Among Young Adults, Study Finds

A new study has identified accelerated biological aging as a major factor behind the growing number of cancer cases among young adults worldwide, particularly colorectal cancer.

Cancer is the world’s second-leading cause of death, and recent research has shown that the risk of several cancer types among people under the age of 50 has been steadily increasing since the 1950s.

According to the latest findings, individuals born during the 1980s and 1990s are experiencing faster biological aging than previous generations, which may significantly contribute to the rise in early-onset cancers.

Unlike chronological age, which is determined by a person’s date of birth, biological age reflects the body’s physical and physiological condition. It is influenced by genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors. A higher biological age is associated with an increased risk of various diseases, including cancer.

Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine compared the biological ages of people born between 1965–1969 and those born between 1990–1999. The study found that individuals born in the 1990s showed a faster rate of biological aging than those born in the 1960s, with the difference being more pronounced in men than in women.

The researchers also found that the greater the gap between biological and chronological age, the higher the risk of developing cancers, particularly lung, digestive system, and colorectal cancers.

Between 1990 and 2019, cancer cases among people under the age of 50 increased by 24 percent worldwide. Colorectal cancer, in particular, has become increasingly common among younger adults. The study suggests that people born in the 1990s face more than four times the risk of developing colorectal cancer compared with those born in earlier generations.

Scientists believe several factors may be contributing to accelerated biological aging, including earlier puberty, rising obesity rates, diabetes, and an earlier onset of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke.

The study also revealed that different organs can age at different rates. An older immune system relative to a person’s chronological age was associated with a higher overall cancer risk, while accelerated aging of fat tissue was specifically linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer.

Researchers emphasized that there is still no definitive explanation for the global rise in cancer among young adults. However, studies like this help identify the biological and lifestyle factors that may be driving the trend. Future research will focus on understanding how environmental exposures influence biological aging and cancer risk, as well as exploring new strategies for prevention.

The study was published in the journal Medicine.