Cancer Survivors Experience Accelerated Aging, Research Finds
New research from the University of Rochester Wilmot Cancer Institute reveals that adolescent and young adult cancer survivors experience a faster rate of aging compared to their peers who have not undergone cancer treatment. The study, published in Nature Communications, details how this accelerated aging manifests both at a cellular level and in cognitive functions like memory, attention, and details processing.
Led by investigator AnnaLynn williams, the research builds upon previous findings presented in 2022 at the American Society of Hematology. The study group comprised approximately 1,400 patients, all at least five years post-treatment, with the majority having previously been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or Hodgkin lymphoma.
Researchers discovered that accelerated aging occurred nonetheless of the specific treatment received, even in cases where treatment wasn’t directed at the brain. Notably, chemotherapy was found to expedite aging most considerably due to its impact on DNA structure and cellular damage.A strong correlation was also identified between cellular aging and brain function; survivors exhibiting higher biological age experienced greater difficulties with memory and attention.
Though, the research offers a hopeful outlook. Ongoing investigations at Wilmot suggest that lifestyle interventions – including smoking cessation, regular exercise, and improved nutrition – may perhaps reverse these accelerated aging effects. Williams emphasizes the importance of intervention, stating, “Young cancer survivors have many more decades of life to live…the goal is to intervene to not only increase their lifespan but improve their quality of life.”
The challenges faced by young adult survivors extend beyond physical health, frequently enough impacting their ability to pursue education, build careers, and establish independence. williams notes that these cognitive deficits contribute to poorer educational and employment outcomes compared to their siblings.
Current research, including a pilot study analyzing tissue samples before and after treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma, aims to pinpoint the optimal timing for intervention. Further studies are also underway with women with breast cancer and older adults with leukemia, exploring strategies to reverse aging processes. This work is funded by the National Cancer Institute.
Keep reading
- Mysterious Disease Hits Freiburg Cows: How Drought and Feed Shortages Are Threatening Dairy Farmers
- Ancient Inca Mummies Reveal True Origins of Smallpox in the Americas
- Three Wyoming Residents Pedaling in Annual Pan-Event to Fight Cancer (news-usa.today)
- Katarzyna Chrzanowska Opens Up About Her Husband’s Tragic Death and Her Own Near-Death Experience (world-today-news.com)