6 Signs You’re Experiencing ‘Accelerated Aging,’ A Major Cancer Contributor

It’s fair to say that aging and longevity are on many people’s minds, especially as they grow older. The idea of being unable to remember family members, noticing changes in your appearance and not having the same physical independence you used to is scary. You may also see these signs in a loved one, which is upsetting, to say the least.

People may cope through educating or preparing themselves, or taking necessary steps to avoid or manage those symptoms. One important term to know in this process is “accelerated aging.”

As the name suggests, accelerated aging means your body is aging faster than would be standard or ideal for someone with your chronological age. Various factors can contribute to this: not getting enough physical activity, experiencing mental health challenges and environmental stressors, to name a few.

While accelerated aging is difficult enough on its own, it also increases the risk of early-onset colorectal cancer, according to a 2025 study in Cancer Prevention Research. It found that “each year of accelerated aging correlated with a 16 percent increased risk of developing polyps.”

Early detection is crucial, so it’s important to know what to look for and take care. Here are the signs you might be experiencing it:

If you have trouble walking up the stairs or notice decreased stamina, muscle weakness or poor balance, you may have less muscle mass than you used to.

“The loss of muscle mass can be a sign of accelerated aging, and it is one physicians are often concerned about because muscle mass is linked to helping people with stability, coordination and balance — which are critical for all of us as we age,” said Dr. Chris Vercammen, a board-certified internal medicine physician and medical director at Remo Health who specializes in geriatrics and palliative care.

In fact, more than 25% of older adults fall each year, and falling once increases your chances of falling again. This can easily lead to a loss of independence and other health problems.

Needless to say, muscle mass is important. Daily exercise, strength training, and eating more protein can help you regain muscle.

As mentioned, falling can be a sign of muscle loss, in which people may not have the necessary amount of stamina or balance.

“Tripping over an obstacle may not be alarming, but repeated falls resulting in an injury should be evaluated by experienced clinicians,” said Dr. Naushira Pandya, a professor and chair of the geriatrics department at Nova Southeastern University, who is board-certified in internal medicine, geriatrics, endocrinology and metabolism.

Various contributors could be at play, she added — environmental hazards, medication side effects, cardiac disorders, vision problems and balance issues — but again, it’s best to see what a healthcare provider thinks. Other than that, she also recommended gait testing, a home safety check and the use of assistive devices as needed.

Do you struggle to remember things like payment due dates and medication dosages? Or maybe you got into a driving accident recently? These are examples of cognitive impairment, according to Pandya.

She suggested seeing a healthcare provider ASAP, as an early diagnosis can allow for quick and ongoing medical care and support, plus time to focus on a person’s quality of life.

This could look like struggling to eat, dress yourself or use the bathroom as normal, as well as struggling to shop, take medication and manage finances, according to Pandya. (The first three are basic ADLs, or activities of daily living, and the latter three are IADLs, or instrumental activities of daily living).

“Loss of ability in both of these areas may indicate worsening of chronic medical problems, frailty, memory or mental health issues, and need for emotional support,” she said. “Functional decline will in turn lead to undernutrition, falls and inadequate health management.”

This can also happen for many reasons, Pandya said, such as becoming more frail, having chronic medical conditions that become harder to manage, and needing more supervision and supportive care — all signs of aging.

Age spots (which look like dark patches of skin), wrinkles, a loss of skin elasticity and thinning skin can be signs of “normal” or faster aging.

“If these changes are noticeable at an earlier age, these are signs of accelerated aging,” Vercammen said.

She recommended staying out of the sun, or wearing sunscreen for mature skin and adequate clothing if you do get out.

Aging takes a toll on the body; the body struggles to heal as efficiently and effectively. DNA is a part of this; it connects accelerated aging with cancer risk.

“Essentially, our body’s DNA splits and comes back together daily,” said Dr. Daniel Landau, an oncologist, hematologist and contributor for The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. “Cancers develop when the DNA does not come back together as it should.”

And that can happen as a person gets older. “Those mechanisms age just like the rest of us,” he continued. “When we are older, they just don’t work as well, and this increases the likelihood of cancers developing.”

Dr. Wael Herb, a board-certified hematologist and medical oncologist at MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast and Saddleback Medical Centers in Orange County, California, explained this further: “For example, shortened telomeres — a hallmark of aging — reduce a cell’s ability to divide properly, leading to genomic instability, a known precursor to cancer.”

It’s important to note that aging can indirectly and directly contribute to cancer risk in other ways, too. Landau spoke about how we become more exposed to asbestos, smoke, radiation and other carcinogens throughout life, which doesn’t help our chances.

At the same time, the biological aging piece remains noteworthy. “It stands to reason that someone who is biologically older than they should be would be prone to cancerous development by virtue of the repair mechanisms not functioning properly,” he concluded.

Knowing the signs of cancer can help you identify it and get treatment ASAP. Briefly, general examples include fatigue, lumps, mouth sores, bladder and/or digestive symptoms, unexplainable pain and changes in your weight, appetite or skin.

For colorectal cancer specifically, be sure to look out for a change in bowel habits, blood in your stool, diarrhea, constipation, feeling as though you weren’t able to empty your bowel all the way, abdominal cramps and unexplained weight loss.

Those signs don’t always mean cancer, though.

“It is important to note that not all of these symptoms indicate cancer, but they do warrant medical evaluation to rule out malignancy or other conditions,” said Dr. Allison Foley, an internal medicine medical director at Providence St. Jude Clinic for Personalized Cancer Surveillance and Prevention. “Cancer may also be asymptomatic in its early stages, underscoring the importance of adhering to nationally accepted cancer screening guidelines, such as mammograms, colonoscopies and CT-lung cancer screenings for appropriate individuals.”

But back to accelerated aging: If you notice a loss in functioning or muscle mass, that you’re falling or visiting the ER more, or that your skin looks different, see a healthcare provider. They can help you take care of your life and health ASAP.