Brain aging may accelerate after cancer treatment, study suggests
Fox News • • health
Key Points:
- A study by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that childhood and young adult cancer survivors may experience accelerated biological aging due to treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.
- Researchers analyzed blood samples from 1,400 long-term survivors using epigenetic clocks to estimate biological age and linked accelerated aging to cognitive impairments in memory, attention, and learning.
- Chemotherapy was identified as having the greatest impact on aging acceleration by altering DNA structure and causing cellular damage, which correlates with difficulties in cognitive performance.
- The study highlights the need for early intervention to address accelerated aging in young cancer survivors to improve both lifespan and quality of life.
- Limitations include the inability to adjust for chronic health conditions or education and the study's cross-sectional
