Here’s what we’ll cover in this blog post:
- How aging is connected to cancer
- How DNA damage causes cancer
- How we can reduce our risk for cancer
When we think of the worst diseases affecting humanity, cancer is likely the first disease that comes to mind. It’s the epitome of chronic diseases, affecting millions worldwide each year, earning its place among the four horsemen of death.
But cancer is also an age-related disease. Like aging, we can take simple steps to prevent cancer until the final stages of our lives. In fact, many of the same processes that cause us to age also increase our risk of cancer.
Here, we’ll explore how cancer and aging are connected, and how you can reduce your risk for cancer.
Aging & Cancer
Cancer is caused by DNA damage that accumulates as we age. DNA damage is also called genomic instability, which is one of the hallmarks of aging.
Everything from environmental pollutants to sunburn contributes to parts of our DNA mutating, morphing, or changing. This damage changes our genetic information, leading to cellular dysfunction and apoptosis. If our cells can’t recycle themselves, they can transform into cancer cells.
As we grow older, the quality control mechanisms our body uses to repair this DNA damage starts to diminish. One of these mechanisms is cellular senescence, which is when our cells become too damaged and stop dividing. When enough senescent cells form in our bodies, they can cause damage to the surrounding tissues, muscles, and organs, which can leave us susceptible to diseases like cancer.
That’s when our immune system kicks in with specialized T-cells to clear away cancer cells. The problem is that our immune system also diminishes with age, meaning our T-cells eventually become too weak to identify and clear cancer cells.
As these processes diminish with age, our risk of cancer increases. This is partly why cancer is considered an age-related disease. But it’s also why our risk of cancer is tied to how well we age.
What Causes DNA Damage?
DNA damage is caused by four factors that are also common to diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease—the four horsemen of death:
- Oxidative stress
Oxidative stress arises when there is an imbalance between free radicals (unstable molecules that can damage cells) and antioxidants in our body. This imbalance can lead to cell and tissue damage, influencing cancer development. - Inflammation
Also known as the body’s natural response to injury or infection, inflammation can create an environment conducive to cancer. It promotes cellular proliferation and angiogenesis, potentially leading to mutations and tumor growth. - Elongated telomeres
The protective caps at the end of our chromosomes, telomeres play a significant role in cellular aging. Each time a cell divides, these telomeres shorten, eventually leading to cell senescence. Shortened telomeres have been linked to increased cancer risk, as they may prompt cells to divide uncontrollably. That’s why our cells have a secret weapon called telomerase that can lengthen telomeres. If telomerase becomes mutated, it can prompt cells to divide uncontrollably and increase cancer risk. - Direct DNA damage
These are alterations in the DNA structure caused by external factors like UV radiation, smoking, and exposure to certain chemicals, as well as internal factors such as errors in DNA replication that damage our DNA. Direct DNA damage can disrupt the cell’s normal function, leading to mutations that may accumulate and result in cancer.
How to Prevent DNA Damage
By the time we can see or feel DNA damage, the damage has already accumulated to the point that it’s visible beyond a cellular level. Our goal should be to prevent DNA damage before it develops.
Healthy Lifestyle
Healthy lifestyle choices are the best strategies for preventing DNA damage, serving as our first line of defense for reducing cancer risk.
- Regular exercise
Regularly exercising has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce cancer risk. Any exercise is a step in the right direction, as even moderate exercise can lower cancer risk by as much as 40%. - A healthy diet
Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and antioxidants can also reduce DNA damage and inflammation. The Mediterannean diet, which has been shown to reduce overall cancer risk, is an ideal balance of all of these. - Getting quality sleep
Making sure you get at least 7-9 hours of sleep each night ensures that we’re giving our bodies the time to repair any DNA damage. This is the time we need to reduce inflammation and clear age-related damage. - Managing stress levels
By avoiding high cortisol levels associated with stress we can assist with our immune response. Chronic stress can make it more challenging for us to combat the onset of illness, disease, and cancer, even as we sleep.
Longevity Treatments
As we age, it becomes nearly impossible to control DNA damage with lifestyle choices alone. Fortunately, there are longevity treatments that can help reduce the risk of cancer.
For example, Metformin has been shown to reduce total cancer risk, while Rapamycin is being explored for its ability to target pre-cancerous cells. There are many promising treatments that can either reduce our overall risk for cancer or target certain cancers. Consider a consultation with one of our longevity experts to explore which are right for you.
Testing Early
Even the healthiest person can have unseen damage accumulating at a cellular level. The only way to know for sure is with regular testing. That’s why our best defense against cancer is early detection.
With the advancements of modern science, anyone can test for certain types of cancer without waiting for symptoms to show. Cancer tests like the Galleri Multi-Cancer Early Detection Test can assess the risk for over 50 types of cancer—all in a single lab visit.
No matter what strategies you choose to reduce your risk, you should consult your prescriber to see which are right for you.
Note: The above statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.