The rising incidence of cancer among people under 50 has drawn increasing attention from researchers, with a new study suggesting that faster biological ageing may be associated with the trend.
The study, conducted by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine, examined the possible relationship between rising cancer cases among younger people and the rate at which the body ages. Its findings were published in the medical journal Nature Medicine.
Researchers distinguish between chronological age, which is based on a person’s date of birth, and biological age, which reflects the condition of cells, organs, metabolism and other bodily systems.
For the study, researchers analysed data from more than 154,000 people and compared the findings with a separate group of around 10,000 participants. They found that people born between 1990 and 1999 had a 92 per cent higher rate of accelerated biological ageing than those born between 1965 and 1969.
According to the researchers, faster biological ageing may be associated with an approximately 8pc increase in the risk of developing cancer at a younger age. The association was more pronounced for certain types of lung and digestive system cancers.
The study noted that biological ageing can be influenced by genetic factors as well as lifestyle, body weight, dietary habits and other environmental factors. Higher body weight, alcohol consumption, prolonged sitting and an unhealthy diet may increase the risk of various diseases and certain cancers.
However, the researchers stressed that further studies are needed to better understand the relationship between accelerated biological ageing and cancer risk among younger people.
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