surviving cancer childhood Young adults may have a lasting impact on aging, according to new research.
Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center investigated whether life-saving treatments could include: Chemotherapy and radiationwhich can accelerate biological aging.
They also aimed to determine whether this accelerated aging was associated with cognitive problems related to memory, concentration, and learning.
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The team analyzed blood samples from a group of 1,400 long-term survivors treated at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. epigenetic clock — A tool to estimate biological age by examining chemical tags on DNA.
According to scientists, biological age is determined based on cellular damage that accumulates over time, as opposed to chronological age, which is measured by survival time.
“These well-established aging-related biomarkers have previously been associated with neurocognitive impairment and decline in non-cancer elderly populations, particularly in cognitive domains associated with aging and dementia, such as memory, attention, and executive function,” the study said.
The majority of the group consisted of acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors. Hodgkin lymphoma survivor. Participants had been at least five years removed from treatment, but some had survived for decades.
They underwent neurocognitive tests to measure attention span, memory, and information processing speed.
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Chemotherapy was found to have the greatest impact on accelerated aging. This study suggests that treatment may change DNA structure and cause cell damage.
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“It’s not surprising that young cancer patients who receive chemotherapy early in life experience long-term aging effects,” FOX News Senior Medical Analyst Dr. Mark Siegel told FOX News Digital.
The researchers also found that cellular aging is closely linked to cognitive performance, as survivors of older biological age have more difficulty with memory and attention.
“Chemotherapy poisons and damages cell function. Hopefully, cancer cells It’s more common than normal cells, but it also has a significant effect on normal cells,” said Siegel, who was not involved in the study.
He added: “There’s also something called ‘chemical brain,’ which causes at least temporary difficulties with memory, concentration, word-finding, brain fog, etc.”
The research team hopes to use these findings to focus intervention efforts, particularly by determining when accelerated aging begins.
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“Young cancer survivors have many more decades to live,” study lead author Dr. Annalyn Williams said in a press release. “If these accelerated aging changes occur earlier and are on a different trajectory, the goal is to intervene to improve lifespan, not just extend it. quality of life. ”
The study had several limitations. Researchers failed to adapt to chronic conditions health condition They are directly affected by the treatment and have no access to education.
Furthermore, because the study only looked at survivors at one point in time, it could not directly prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
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The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
Fox News Digital has reached out to researchers for comment.
