A new study reveals that people under 50 are biologically aging faster than previous generations, a trend that may be linked to rising cancer rates. The research, published in Nature Medicine, compares biological aging markers across birth cohorts. It found those born between 1990 and 1999 show greater cellular wear and tear than those born between 1965 and 1969.
This accelerated aging correlates with a stark increase in early-onset cancers. A British Medical Journal report noted a 79% global rise in new cancer diagnoses for people under 50 since 1990. The study’s co-author, Yin Cao of Washington University, suggests these biological changes could be connected to the rising cancer rates seen in younger people.
Experts point to potential environmental and lifestyle factors. These include ultra-processed foods, obesity, alcohol, smoking, and microplastic exposure. However, the study does not prove causation. It establishes a powerful new correlation by considering systemic aging rather than individual cells.
John Riches of the UK’s Barts Cancer Institute emphasized the research’s broad perspective. “It looks beyond individual cancer cells and considers the wider changes taking place across the body over time,” he said. Further research is now needed to understand the precise mechanisms driving this accelerated biological aging.