Study Finds Link Between Epigenetic Aging And Colorectal Cancer Risk In Postmenopausal Women

A caller investigation paper was published in Volume 17, Issue 7 of Aging (Aging-US) on July 7, 2025, titled "Epigenetic property and accelerated aging phenotypes: a tumor biomarker for predicting colorectal cancer."

In this study led by Su Yon Jung from the University of California, Los Angeles, researchers recovered a beardown relation betwixt accelerated epigenetic aging and an accrued consequence of colorectal crab successful postmenopausal women. The study besides indicated that manner factors power this risk.

Colorectal crab is 1 of nan starring causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, peculiarly successful group complete nan property of 50. However, individuals do not each property astatine nan aforesaid biologic rate. Two group of nan aforesaid chronological property tin disagree successful their biologic aging, which reflects nan information of their cells and tissues. This study focused connected a circumstantial measurement of biologic aging known arsenic epigenetic aging, which is based connected chemic changes to DNA.

The researchers utilized information from nan Women's Health Initiative Database for Genotypes and Phenotypes (WHI-dbGaP), which includes familial and wellness accusation from postmenopausal achromatic women aged 50 to 79. They applied 3 established "epigenetic clocks" to estimate epigenetic property from humor samples collected up to 17 years earlier a colorectal crab diagnosis. These clocks measurement really quickly a personification is aging astatine nan molecular level by search DNA methylation. Women pinch a higher epigenetic property than expected were importantly much apt to create colorectal cancer

"[…]we examined biologic aging position successful PBLs via 3 well-established epigenetic clocks-Horvath's, Hannum's and Levine's […]."

The study besides explored nan domiciled of manner successful modifying this risk. Women who consumed much fruits and vegetables showed nary accrued risk, moreover if they were epigenetically older. In contrast, women pinch some little consequence and rootlike intake and signs of accelerated aging were up to 20 times much apt to create colorectal cancer. This suggests that a patient fare whitethorn thief trim crab consequence associated pinch biologic aging.

Another cardinal uncovering progressive women who had some ovaries removed earlier earthy menopause. These women had a higher epigenetic property and, erstwhile mixed pinch accelerated aging, a greater likelihood of processing colorectal cancer. This highlights nan imaginable power of hormonal and reproductive factors connected aging and illness risk.

The researchers validated their findings crossed respective independent datasets, supporting nan imaginable of blood-based epigenetic aging markers arsenic early indicators of colorectal crab risk. These markers could thief guideline early discovery and prevention strategies successful aging populations. However, nan authors stress nan request for independent large-scale replication studies.

Overall, this study contributes to a amended knowing of nan relation betwixt epigenetic aging and cancer. It besides supports nan thought that modifiable manner factors whitethorn trim illness risk, moreover among those aging much quickly astatine nan cellular level.