A new study in Nature Communications finds that adolescent and young adult cancer survivors show accelerated biological and brain aging compared with peers who never had cancer. The research was led by AnnaLynn Williams at the University of Rochester Wilmot Cancer Institute, with Kevin Krull of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and it builds on data first presented in 2022 at the American Society of Hematology.
The study followed roughly 1,400 patients, all at least five years after treatment; many were long-term survivors and most had acute lymphoblastic leukemia or Hodgkin lymphoma. Investigators report faster cellular aging and declines in brain function linked to poorer memory, attention and information processing. Chemotherapy—known to alter DNA structure and damage tissue and cells—was associated with the greatest acceleration of aging. For survivors who received brain-directed radiation, researchers aim to prevent further decline.
Williams warned of the long-term impact: “Young cancer survivors have many more decades of life to live,” and she called the situation “kind of like a perfect storm,” as many survivors are finishing education and starting careers. Teams at Wilmot and elsewhere are testing ways to intervene. The next steps are to determine the best time to act; the study was funded by the National Cancer Institute.
- Interventions under study include quitting smoking.
- Exercise programs have shown benefit in some studies.
- Researchers also test improved nutrition and other healthy habits.
Difficult words
- accelerate — to make something happen faster or earlieraccelerated
- cellular — relating to cells in a living body
- chemotherapy — medical treatment that uses chemical drugs
- radiation — energy used in medicine that can damage cells
- intervention — an action or program to improve healthInterventions
- decline — a reduction or worsening in ability or conditiondeclines
- survivor — a person who lives after a serious diseasesurvivors
- information processing — how the brain takes in and uses information
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why might accelerated biological and brain aging cause particular problems for young survivors as they finish education and start careers? Give two possible effects.
- Which of the interventions mentioned (quitting smoking, exercise, improved nutrition, other healthy habits) do you think would be easiest to implement for long-term survivors, and why?
- How should health services change follow-up care for young cancer survivors in response to findings about accelerated aging?
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