Younger people age biologically faster and are more likely to get cancer.
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A new study suggests that faster biological aging may help explain why more people under the age of 50 are being diagnosed with cancer, although researchers stress that the findings show a link rather than proof of cause.
Cancer has traditionally been considered a disease that mainly affects older adults because the body's ability to repair DNA damage and eliminate abnormal cells declines with age. However, doctors are increasingly diagnosing cancers such as colorectal cancer, lung cancer, bone marrow cancer, and uterine cancer in younger adults. In Germany, the Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (German Cancer Research Center) has reported a noticeable rise in colorectal cancer among people aged 20 to 39, while similar trends have also been observed in the United States.
Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine analyzed health data from more than 150,000 participants in the UK's UK Biobank and discovered that younger generations often have a larger gap between their chronological age and their biological age. Biological age reflects how much the body's organs and tissues have aged rather than the number of years a person has lived. The study found that individuals born in more recent decades appeared to be biologically older than people of the same age from earlier generations.
The researchers found that people with accelerated biological aging faced a higher risk of developing several cancers before the age of 50. The association was especially strong for lung cancer, while elevated risks were also observed for colorectal cancer and other digestive system cancers. Scientists emphasized that the study identifies a correlation, meaning it does not prove that faster biological aging directly causes cancer.
Experts say biological age cannot currently be determined through a single routine medical test. Instead, it is estimated using a combination of factors such as DNA changes, blood biomarkers, telomere length, and physical health measurements. They believe this area of research could eventually improve cancer prevention and help identify people at higher risk much earlier.
Researchers also believe lifestyle plays an important role in biological aging. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, quality sleep, avoiding smoking, excessive alcohol, and drug use, as well as maintaining strong social connections, may help slow the aging process. Scientists estimate that lifestyle influences about half of biological aging, while genetics account for the rest.
Although the reasons younger generations appear to be aging biologically faster remain unclear, experts suspect factors such as obesity, sedentary lifestyles, poor sleep, stress, and prolonged screen time may contribute. They also encourage people to seek medical advice if they experience persistent symptoms and to take advantage of cancer screening whenever recommended, as early detection remains one of the most effective ways to improve outcomes.