Accelerated aging, linked to lifestyle and environmental factors, is emerging as a potential driver behind the alarming surge of colon cancer cases among people under 50, according to new research, the Daily Mail reported.
The rise of colon cancer in younger adults has left scientists puzzled, but a new study shed light on a possible explanation: accelerated aging. Researchers suggest this condition, where biological age surpasses chronological age, may be fueled by lifestyle choices and environmental factors, contributing to a heightened risk of colorectal cancer.
The study, led by Dr. Shria Kumar, a colorectal cancer specialist, analyzed blood samples from younger patients who underwent colonoscopies to determine their biological age. The findings revealed that every additional year of accelerated aging correlated with a 16% increased risk of developing polyps — precursors to cancer.
"It is pretty striking that multiple studies, including ours, have found that biological age provides distinct health information and that could help us prevent cancer," Kumar said.
While traditional risk factors such as body fat and smoking were not directly linked to colon cancer in the study, other contributors to accelerated aging, such as poor diet, alcohol use, pollution, and stress, appeared to play a role.
Researchers also noted the prevalence of diets high in ultra-processed foods and lifestyle changes as significant factors.
This discovery coincides with a global surge in colon cancer cases among individuals under 50. Data from the National Cancer Institute indicates that the disease has increased by 50% in younger age groups over the past three decades. In response, U.S. health authorities now recommend starting colon cancer screening at 45, but some experts argue for lowering the age even further.
The rising rates have raised similar concerns in the U.K., where screening is available to those aged 54 to 74. Bowel cancer currently claims nearly 17,000 lives in the U.K. annually, with only half of those diagnosed expected to survive for a decade. Projections suggest deaths could rise by an additional 2,500 each year by 2040.
Despite the grim statistics, experts emphasize that colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer.
"What's really exciting about the opportunity in colorectal cancer is that we have a clear prevention tactic," Kumar said. "Colonoscopy is not only early detection but also cancer prevention."
Other screening methods, such as at-home stool tests, offer more convenient options, but early detection remains key. For younger patients, symptoms like abdominal pain, weight loss, and blood in the stool are often overlooked, leading to later-stage diagnoses.
The research also hints at generational trends in accelerated aging, suggesting that younger cohorts, including Gen Z, may face even higher risks due to evolving lifestyles and environmental exposures.
Professor Ilaria Bellantuono of the University of Sheffield noted: "We don't know enough to say for certain that younger generations are aging faster or why … but it's not impossible. We are seeing more diseases in younger people, the kinds of diseases we might normally expect to be developing in older adults."