Can Your Biological Age Predict Your Risk of Colorectal Cancer? Possibly
Posted By Author on April 4, 2025
Scheduling a colonoscopy is typically found on the to-do lists of those 45 years and older, but recent developments have seen a rise in colorectal cancer in young adults.
Within one week, Yale Medicine Colon & Rectal Surgery doctors diagnosed seven patients with rectal cancer, all under the age of 35. In early 2023, the American Cancer Society (ACS) reported that 20% of colorectal cancer diagnoses in 2019 were in patients under 55 years of age.
In the latest report from the ACS in 2024, colorectal cancer has moved from being the fourth leading cause of cancer death under 50 years of age in men and women to ranking first in men and second in women.
While the rise in colorectal cancer in young adults continues to remain a mystery, research conducted at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, found the answer may lie in your biological age.
What is a biological age, and how does it connect to your risk of developing colorectal cancer? Keep reading to find out!
Chronological vs. Biological Age
When answering the question, “How old are you?” our answer is often a knee-jerk reaction based on how long we’ve spent in the world since birth. Whether you answer with 26 or 76, our chronological age is an unchangeable amount (though some of us wish we had the power to reverse the clock at times).
So, what is the difference between chronological age and your biological age?
Your chronological age is how long you have existed in the world, while your biological age is how old your cells are. While these numbers are often the same, that’s not always true.
Your biological age, also referred to as your physiological age, is affected by various factors, such as:
Genetics
Diet
Exercise
Stress
Environmental factors
Sleeping habits
Smoking
So, while you may be 26 years old, the cells in your body may be more similar to that of a 50-year-old.
Research Suggests a Connection Between Your Biological Age and Colorectal Cancer Risk
According to a news article published by the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami, “a new study published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, links accelerated aging to raised colorectal cancer risk.”
Accelerated aging refers to those having a biological age above their chronological age. For example, if a person is 40 years old but has a biological age of 50, they have 10 years of accelerated aging.
In the article, Dr. Kumar, an assistant professor in the Miller School’s Digestive Health and Liver Diseases, said, “Accelerated aging has been shown to be predictive of time to death and even of multiple cancers.”
The research presented in the study took a closer look at a patient’s biological age and compared it to their colonoscopy results. The results found that “each year of accelerated aging correlated with a 16% increased risk of developing polyps.”
The study presented will need to be repeated with larger sample sizes, as Dr. Kumar mentioned in the article, but it could lead to further colorectal cancer prevention techniques and growing research in the field of epigenetics, the study of how behaviors and one’s environment can influence how genes function.
Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors and Other Things You Should Know
Colorectal cancer starts as polyps, or growths, on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Most polyps are benign; however, certain types of colon polyps can develop into cancer over time.
Various factors can increase your risk of developing colorectal cancer, some of which are lifestyle-related, while others are based on your genetic makeup.
Factors that can increase your risk of developing colorectal cancer include:
Feeling that the bowel doesn’t fully empty during a bowel movement
Talk to your GI doctor if you are experiencing symptoms of colon cancer or to rule out any other underlying GI conditions.
Schedule a Colonoscopy Near You Today with Charleston GI
When it comes to understanding the intricacies of colon cancer and getting your most pressing questions answered, our gastroenterology specialists are here to help.
With extensive knowledge of the GI tract and an understanding of a wide variety of GI conditions, our GI clinic is here to help you make sense of your symptoms and help you get your gut back on track!
We have four convenient Charleston area locations to choose from, in West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, and Carnes Crossroads. Our Charleston GI doctors are ready five days a week to offer you relief.
