Earlier this year, researchers reported a rise in 11 types of cancer among adults aged 20 to 49, including breast, colorectal and pancreatic cancers diseases that have traditionally been more common in older adults. The trend has prompted scientists to investigate the underlying causes.
Several factors have been suggested, including unhealthy diets, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, disruptions to the gut microbiome and even exposure to microplastics.
However, a new study published in the journal Nature Medicine points to accelerated biological ageing as another possible explanation.
Unlike chronological age, which measures the number of years a person has lived, biological age reflects how well the body is functioning and how quickly it is ageing.
It is influenced by factors such as diet, physical activity, sleep quality, stress levels, inflammation and overall metabolic health.
Researchers analysed blood samples from nearly 164,000 adults in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Their findings revealed signs of accelerated biological ageing among people in their 30s and 40s—a pattern that was not observed in their parents’ generation.
The researchers believe these findings may help explain why cancer is increasingly being diagnosed at younger ages, although they stress that further studies are needed to better understand the relationship between biological ageing and cancer risk.
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