Harvard and UK Biobank studies link accelerated biological ageing to rise in early‑onset cancer

A new analysis of more than 160,000 participants from the UK Biobank and a U.S. cohort found that accelerated biological ageing may raise the risk of developing cancer before age 50. The study, published in Nature Medicine, reports a global 24 % increase in early‑onset cancer cases between 1990 and 2019, with the strongest associations for lung, colorectal and uterine cancers. Biological age was estimated using blood‑based markers and the PhenoAge algorithm, which reflects cumulative cellular damage influenced by diet, exercise, stress, inflammation, pollution and lifestyle. Researchers call for further work to confirm the link and to explore preventive strategies.

Separately, a large genetic investigation by Harvard University researchers showed that natural selection continued to shape the DNA of Western Eurasian populations over the past 10,000 years, favouring specific physical and biological traits. The findings underline that human evolution is an ongoing process that can affect contemporary health outcomes.