On Tuesday, scientists reported that adults aged under 55 are facing a higher risk of cancer than in previous decades. The study, published in a peer‑reviewed journal, links the trend to accelerated biological ageing in newer generations.
Rising early‑onset cancers
Data collected by national cancer registries show that the incidence of cancers such as lung, colorectal and uterine tumours has climbed steadily over the past 30 years for people in their 30s and 40s. According to the report, the rise is most pronounced for cancers traditionally associated with older age groups.
Researchers suggest that the shift may stem from changes in lifestyle, environmental exposures and the way the body ages at the molecular level.
Accelerated biological ageing could be a key driver behind the surge of early‑onset cancers.
Aging in the body
Biological age reflects the functional state of tissues, rather than the calendar age of a person. It can be measured through epigenetic clocks that track DNA methylation patterns, as well as other biomarkers such as telomere length and proteomic signatures.
In the new study, the researchers compared these markers across individuals born in different decades. They found that those born after 1980 displayed a biological age that exceeded their chronological age by an average of 4.5 years, while those born before 1950 were closer to their actual age.
Study design and findings
The team analysed data from over 12,000 participants in a longitudinal cohort. Biological age acceleration was calculated by subtracting chronological age from the age predicted by the epigenetic clock. Participants were then followed for up to 15 years to record cancer diagnoses.
Statistical models showed that each additional year of biological age acceleration increased the risk of developing any cancer by 12 per cent. Specific cancers displayed distinct patterns: lung cancer risk rose by 18 per cent per year of acceleration, gastrointestinal cancers by 15 per cent, and uterine and colorectal cancers by 14 per cent each.
Why it matters
These findings suggest that the rise in early‑onset cancers is not merely a reflection of better screening or reporting. Instead, a genuine shift in the biology of ageing could be creating a new population at risk.
Public health agencies have responded by urging earlier screening for high‑risk groups. Some countries are already extending lung‑cancer screening guidelines to individuals as young as 45 who smoke, and exploring opportunistic screening for colorectal cancer in the 35–49 age bracket.
Future steps
Experts stress the need for further research into the causes of accelerated ageing, including diet, pollution, stress and sleep patterns. Intervention trials that aim to slow biological ageing could provide a novel route to cancer prevention.
Meanwhile, clinicians are encouraged to incorporate biological age assessments into routine risk calculations, where feasible, to better stratify patients for surveillance and preventive therapies.
With early‑onset cancers now a growing concern, the study opens a new avenue for tackling a problem that has long been associated with older adults alone.
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