Faster aging linked to cancer rates in young adults, study finds

• Recent studies show the incidence of early-onset cancer diagnosed in adults under 50 is increasing.
• Scientists are not completely sure what is causing the increase.
• Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine suggest accelerated biological aging is driving the increase in early-onset cancers.

Recent studies show the incidence of cancer diagnosed in people under the age of 50 — known as early-onset cancer — is increasing.

The recently released Cancer Statistics 2024 report from the American Cancer Society (ACS) stated that cervical and colorectal cancer diagnoses have increased in younger males and females.

Another recent study reported that the early-onset incidence of 29 cancers increased by about 79% globally between 1990 and 2019, with early-onset cancer deaths also rising by about 28% during that time.

While the data shows early-onset cancer is increasing, scientists are not completely sure what’s causing the increase. Most agree lifestyle and environmental factors are involved, but more research is needed.

Now, a new study suggests accelerated biological aging could be driving the development of early-onset cancers. The findings, which have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, were presented during the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research on April 5–10.

“Multiple cancer types are becoming increasingly common among younger adults in the United States and globally,” Ruiyi Tian, MPH, a graduate student at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and lead author of the study said in a news release.

“Understanding the factors driving this increase will be key to improve the prevention or early detection of cancers in younger and future generations.”