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Study links faster biological aging to early-onset cancer

A WashU Medicine study in Nature Medicine (June 2026, widely shared in September 2026) links faster biological aging in younger generations to early-onset cancer. What it found and what it doesn't mean.

By Cancer Explained Editorial TeamPublished

Original commentary from the Cancer Explained editorial team.

A scientist in blue gloves uses a pipette in a laboratory
A scientist in blue gloves uses a pipette in a laboratory — illustrative photograph, not of anyone named in this story.

Please note: this page is educational only — it is not medical advice, and it does not speculate about anyone’s health beyond reliable public reporting. For questions about your own health, talk with your healthcare team.

What the study found

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (WashU Medicine) have linked faster biological aging to cancer in younger adults. The study, led by Yin Cao, was published online in Nature Medicine on 22 June 2026. It drew new attention this month when ScienceDaily ran the university's story on 14 September 2026.

Biological age is an estimate of how old the body seems, based on blood tests. The team looked at more than 154,000 young adults in the UK Biobank and more than 10,000 people in the US All of Us Research Program.

The main results:

  • In the UK group, people born in 1965 to 1974 showed more biological aging than those born in 1950 to 1954 at the same age.
  • The university reports a larger gap in the US group, between people born in the 1990s and those born in the late 1960s.
  • Each step up on one aging scale was linked to about an 8% higher risk of solid cancers before age 55.
  • Signs of immune system aging were linked to early lung cancer. Signs of fat tissue aging were linked to early colorectal cancer.

Cao said the goal is "to decode how modern environments become biologically embedded to drive cancer risk."

Why it matters

NCI reports that 14 cancer types, including colorectal, breast, uterine, and kidney cancers, rose in at least one age group under 50 between 2010 and 2019. Genes alone do not explain it. This study suggests one possible pathway researchers can now test. Our explainer on why cancer is rising in younger adults covers the science in more depth.

What this does not mean

  • It does not prove that faster aging causes cancer. It is an observational study that found a link.
  • It does not say what speeds up aging. The university says that is still being studied.
  • It does not show that a biological age test can predict cancer for one person. The authors note some aging clocks have limited testing in younger adults and in different populations.
  • The US group was followed for only about 2.4 years on average.

When to get checked

NCI says most cancer symptoms are caused by something else. But young adults can get cancer. Symptoms to watch include blood in the stool, a lasting change in bowel habits, belly pain, a new lump, bleeding with no clear cause, or weight loss you cannot explain. If it's new or lasts, get it checked.

US screening for people at average risk starts at 21 for cervical cancer, 40 for breast cancer, and 45 for colorectal cancer. See screening by age.

For heavy bleeding, chest pain, or trouble breathing, call 911.

Sources

All sources accessed 27 September 2026.

How this article was prepared

An AI-assisted editorial system helped prepare this page. No named medical reviewer has reviewed it unless one is listed.

This page is for learning. It is not medical advice and does not suggest a test or treatment.

See an error, old source, or unclear wording? Tell us.

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Put the story in context

Prevention, possible warning signs, screening, and diagnosis

This story relates to Early-onset cancer. The information below is general: it does not reveal anything else about a public person’s health, and not every point applies to every cancer. Personal advice depends on age, symptoms, family history, exposures, and medical history.

  • Prevention and risk reduction

    Not every cancer can be prevented. Avoiding tobacco, protecting skin from ultraviolet radiation, limiting alcohol, staying active, and receiving recommended HPV or hepatitis B vaccination can lower the risk of certain cancers. A risk factor is not a prediction or a cause in one individual.

    NCI prevention information ↗

  • Symptoms and possible early signs

    Possible signs vary and are often caused by conditions other than cancer. Changes worth discussing include a new lump, unexplained bleeding or weight loss, a persistent cough, lasting bowel or bladder changes, a changing skin spot, or symptoms that persist or worsen. Some early cancers cause no symptoms.

    NCI signs and symptoms ↗

  • Screening and early detection

    Screening looks for certain cancers before symptoms begin. Recommended tests exist only for some cancers and depend on age and risk. Screening can have benefits and harms; it is not the same as evaluating a new symptom, and there is no single routine scan or blood test that reliably screens for every cancer.

    NCI cancer screening information ↗

  • How cancer is diagnosed

    Diagnosis may involve a history and exam, imaging, laboratory tests, and often a biopsy. Pathology can identify the cancer type and may test biomarkers that guide treatment. Symptoms, screening results, tumor markers, or online stories alone cannot confirm cancer.

    NCI diagnosis information ↗

Learn about this story’s cancer topic

A public story may encourage questions, but it should not be used to estimate your risk or choose testing. Contact a healthcare professional about a persistent or concerning change. Seek urgent care for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms.

Related Cancer Explained resources

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