A study published in Nature Medicine has found that individuals born between 1965 and 1974 exhibit higher biological age—measured by cellular and molecular wear and tear—than those born between 1950 and 1954. The trend continues for those born between 1990 and 1999, who show greater biological ageing than the 1965–1969 cohort.
Lead author Yin Cao, associate professor of surgery and medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, told Oncology Central: “Our findings suggest that some younger adults may be experiencing these biological changes earlier than expected, and that this could be linked to the rising rates of cancers seen in younger generations.”
Early-Onset Cancers on the Rise Across Europe
Cancer has traditionally been considered a disease of older age, but early-onset cancers—those diagnosed before age 50—have increased sharply over the past three decades. A 2023 report in the British Medical Journal found that the global number of new cancer cases in people under 50 rose by 79% since 1990. In the European Union, the European Cancer Information System (ECIS) recorded an estimated 13,800 children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer in 2022 across the 27 member states.
Experts have pointed to factors such as ultra-processed foods, alcohol consumption, obesity, smoking, and exposure to microplastics as potential drivers. The new study adds a systemic perspective: rather than focusing on individual cancer cells, it examines how the entire body ages biologically.
John Riches, clinical reader in cancer immuno-metabolism at the UK’s Barts Cancer Institute, commented: “What makes this research particularly significant is that it looks beyond individual cancer cells and considers the wider changes taking place across the body over time. The findings reinforce the idea that factors such as our environment, lifestyle and overall health can have long-term effects on the body’s biological processes.”
Jyoti Nangalia, group leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in the UK, urged caution: “We now need further research to understand exactly what these measurements are telling us. Are they capturing processes that directly drive cancer development, or are both these biological changes and cancer being driven by other shared underlying factors?” She added: “It will be fascinating to see whether such measurements may help us track changes in health across different populations and generations.”
The study does not prove causation, but it establishes a strong correlation between accelerated biological ageing and rising cancer incidence in younger populations. This has particular relevance for Europe, where extreme heat stress and other environmental pressures may compound these biological changes. Meanwhile, positive examples of healthy ageing in some European communities highlight the potential for lifestyle interventions.
Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms linking biological ageing to cancer and other chronic diseases. Understanding these pathways could eventually help identify at-risk populations earlier and guide preventive strategies across the continent.
