Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in the US and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have reported a concerning rise in early-onset cancers among younger people, particularly gastrointestinal cancers in those aged 20 to 39. The German Cancer Aid non-profit notes that the average age for cancer diagnosis remains around 69, highlighting the unusual nature of this trend.
A recent study from Washington University has for the first time established a link between the widening gap of biological versus chronological age in younger generations and their increased risk of developing cancer early. Ron Jachimowicz, a 32-year-old researcher involved in the study, explained that this association may help explain why more people under 50 are experiencing early-onset cancer. He also noted that younger individuals are exposed to earlier and longer periods of obesity, which could contribute to this accelerated aging process.
The study emphasizes that about 50% of cancer risk is genetically predetermined, while the other half may be influenced by biological aging and environmental factors. Jachimowicz cautioned that "this is a correlative study," but believes it provides a valuable direction for future research.
Similar trends have been observed in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the US, where people born in the 1990s face at least a fourfold higher risk of early-onset colorectal cancer compared to those born in the 1960s.
Cases like Susanna, diagnosed with bowel cancer at just 28 years old, underscore the growing impact of this health issue. Both she and Jachimowicz have shared their experiences publicly to raise awareness.
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