Older brotherPeople born from 1997 to 2012, also known as gen Z, are at greater risk of aging quickly and getting cancer than previous generations, according to experts.
In other words, the cellular age or biological age of the Z gene is significantly greater than the actual age. They are susceptible to certain types of cancer, especially lung, gastrointestinal, and uterine cancers. Scientists also point out that the rate of cancer development increases with each generation born after 1995. Gen Z is also at risk of detecting other chronic and dangerous diseases much earlier than their parents. .
The study was conducted by scientists from the University of Washington School of Medicine. They used blood test data from the UK’s Biobank – which contains medical and genetic information for half a million adults in the country – to consider biological age.
Specifically, people considered to be aging rapidly have twice the risk of early onset of lung cancer, 60% higher risk of developing gastrointestinal tumors, and 80% higher risk of cervical cancer. University of Bristol researchers used similar modeling and found the risk of bowel cancer increased by 12% with each increase in biological age.
According to Professor Ilaria Bellantuono, co-director of the Health Longevity Institute at the University of Sheffield, the idea that younger generations are aging faster than in previous periods is well-founded. Scientists in recent years have found that gene Z causes many diseases that only develop in older people. Biological aging is one of the factors causing those diseases. The rapid aging process also increases the risk of developing chronic diseases, similar to smoking in people with lung cancer.
Scientists have repeatedly warned of an “epidemic” of early-onset cancer around the world. According to statistics, from the early 1990s to 2018, the cancer rate in people aged 25 to 49 in the UK increased by 22%. The number is larger than any other age group, more than twice as high as in the 1970s.
An investigation conducted by Dr. Shuji Ogino, an epidemiologist at Harvard University, shows that cancer rates have increased steadily since the mid-20th century. He said each successive generation since 1950 has been at risk. higher incidence of early-onset cancer.
In young, healthy people, cells usually repair and renew themselves. But when they age naturally or prematurely, the body’s self-healing process encounters many problems.
Cells can accumulate irreversible damage, turn into “zombie cells”, causing inflammation, causing many diseases, besides cancer.
Data from the National Health Service (NHS) shows that the number of people under 40 being treated for heart attacks has also increased by 38% in a decade, from 1,700 in 2012-2013 to 2,300 in 2022-2023. The largest increase (89%) was among 20-24 year olds.
This situation is repeated with diabetes. The new National Diabetes Report, released last December, shows that the number of people with the disease has increased by 11.6% between 2017 and 2022. The figure is especially high for young people: 18% of people under 40, 21% in people 12-25 years old. The number of children under 12 years old with chronic diseases skyrocketed 66% in 4 years, from 90 to 150 people.
Research finds that the rapid aging process plays an important role in the development of type 2 diabetes. People under 40 years old with diabetes will lose 15 to 16 years of life expectancy.
Experts do not clearly understand the cause of this situation. Some speculate that genetics, lifestyle, diet and environment play important roles. Many scientists believe that the “epidemic” of e-cigarettes in gen Z can cause premature aging. Although safer than smoking, the nicotine in e-cigarettes can still break down collagen, the protein that keeps skin firm and plump. This habit can speed up the process of wrinkle formation.
In addition, the increasing number of mental illnesses also causes young people to age faster. According to the NHS, one in five people aged 20 to 25 have a mental health disorder. Dr. Julian Mutz, a researcher at King’s College London, found that depressed people have shorter telomeres with age. This is a type of DNA envelope – a measure of biological age.
Gen Z is also a “lonely generation” when it comes to spending a lot of time on social networks. About 73% of people surveyed in a study by the University of Washington School of Medicine said they often feel lonely. According to Dr. Vivek Murthy, persistent feelings of loneliness are as damaging to the body as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. People who are socially isolated are 32% more likely to die prematurely.