 Health Care |
Health Care |
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Faster aging might lead to getting cancer earlier |
Experts have known for a while that accelerated aging is linked to higher chances of getting cancer, but a new study presented this month suggests that this may be why younger people seem to be getting cancer sooner than their predecessors. |
The findings of the study were presented by researchers from the Washington University in St. Louis's medical school at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting earlier this month.
"Accumulating evidence suggests that the younger generations may be aging more swiftly than anticipated, likely due to earlier exposure to various risk factors and environmental insults. However, the impact of accelerated aging on early-onset cancer development remains unclear," said Ruiyi Tian, one of the authors of the study.
They came to this conclusion by looking at the data of nearly 150,000 people stored in the U.K. Biobank. While life expectancy has risen, experts have noted that "healthspan," the period in which people can lead healthy independent lives without pain or disability, has not followed this trend.
No specific causes were cited as causing accelerated aging, but experts in the field have a few potential contenders. James Kirkland, Noaber Foundation professor of aging research at the Mayo Clinic, pointed to air travel, more radiation exposure and PFAS — forever chemicals — as potential causes, though it's still too soon to make any conclusions.
Factors like illness or environmental influences can cause people to develop more senescent cells, which stop dividing but don't die. These cells secrete inflammatory molecules and increase with age.
Preclinical models have found that introducing senescent cells into organisms accelerates the development of cancers. What could be causing this in younger generations is what researchers like Kirkland hope to find out.
"Globally, it seems fundamental aging processes [are] appearing in younger and younger people despite decreases in smoking worldwide and despite taking into account things like obesity, which we know accelerate fundamental aging processes, so is there something in the environment that we don't know yet that could be driving this?" Kirkland said. |
Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. |
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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
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Republican attorneys general in at least four states have abused their oversight authorities to demand the private medical records of transgender minors and adults as part of a broader effort to restrict access to gender-affirming health care nationwide, according to a Senate Finance Committee report released Tuesday. Investigations launched by Attorneys General Ken Paxton of Texas, Todd Rokita of Indiana, Jonathan Skrmetti … |
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| Melatonin makers are being asked to implement new safety measures based on updated guidelines that follow a rise in accidental ingestion of by children. The Council on Responsible Nutrition (CRN), a trade association for dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers, announced in a press release Monday "the adoption of two sets of new voluntary guidelines," with one of them targeting the "formulation, … |
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Rural health outcomes would improve if more states expanded Medicaid, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra told a Senate panel Tuesday. During a hearing on the administration’s budget request, Sen. Cindy-Hyde Smith (R-Miss.) said she is particularly worried about maternal care deserts caused by hospital closures. Mississippi sees some of the worst maternal health outcomes in the country, she said, … |
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Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: |
- HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra will testify Wednesday before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee.
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Branch out with a different read: |
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UK lawmakers back landmark bill to gradually phase out smoking for good |
LONDON (AP) — The British government’s plan for a landmark smoking ban that aims to stop young people from ever smoking cleared its first hurdle in Parliament on Tuesday despite vocal opposition from within Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party. The bill, a key policy announced by Sunak last year, would make it illegal … | |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- Arizona anti-abortion activists aren't letting up after Supreme Court victory (NBC)
- UAMS, Arkansas Children's awarded $3.2 million to develop next-generation treatments for rare children's anomaly (KARK)
- Louisiana Department of Health failed to check Healthy Louisiana medical, dental providers (BRPROUD)
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
- Chinese company under congressional scrutiny makes key U.S. drugs (The New York Times)
- Chuck Schumer's broken promise on affordable insulin (Stat)
- Inside the rapid-response machine ready for Trump's abortion pivot (NOTUS)
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Most read stories on The Hill right now: |
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The New York judge overseeing former President Trump's hush money trial said Monday that Trump cannot attend arguments on presidential immunity at … Read more |
| A juror who was dismissed from the New York hush money trial said seeing former President Trump in person on Tuesday was a "jarring" experience. A … Read more |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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