The study was led by investigators at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and is part of Team PROSPECT within Cancer Grand Challenges. The researchers analysed data from more than 154,000 young adults in the UK Biobank and from more than 10,000 people in the U.S. All of Us Research Program. Early-onset cancers were defined as those diagnosed at age 55 or younger.
Scientists estimated an "age gap" — the difference between biological age and chronological age — at two levels: systemic aging across the whole body and organ-specific aging within particular systems. For systemic aging they used established measures such as PhenoAge, the Klemera-Doubal Method and a metabolomic age score. For organ-specific aging they used blood proteomic data to estimate apparent organ age.
The analysis showed generational differences. In the UK, people born between 1965 and 1974 had systemic aging about 23% of one standard deviation higher than those born 1950–1954. In the U.S., participants born 1990–1999 had systemic aging about 92% of one standard deviation higher than those born 1965–1969.
Increased systemic aging was associated with a higher risk of early-onset solid cancers. The study also linked advanced immune system aging to early-onset lung cancer and advanced adipose (fat) tissue aging to early-onset colorectal cancer. The findings could help identify higher-risk individuals and guide prevention and early detection.
Difficult words
- investigator — person who leads or carries out researchinvestigators
- age gap — difference between biological age and chronological age
- systemic — affecting the whole body, not just one part
- organ-specific — relating to a particular body organ or system
- metabolomic — relating to small molecules in body metabolism
- proteomic — relating to proteins measured in biological samples
- adipose — fat tissue in the body
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could measuring biological or organ-specific age help with cancer prevention or early detection?
- Why might younger generations show higher systemic aging compared with earlier generations?
- What personal or public actions could help reduce systemic aging in a community?
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