Health
Exposure to toxin increases colorectal cancer risk among younger adults, study finds
Amid the alarming trend of colorectal cancer cases rising among young people, a new study has pinpointed a potential source.
Researchers from University of California San Diego have linked a bacterial toxin called colibactin to the increase in early-onset cases.
Colibactin is produced by certain strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) that exist in the colon and rectum, according to the researchers.
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Exposure to the bacterial toxin during early childhood can alter the DNA of colon cells in a way that increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer before age 50, the study found.
In the study, the researchers analyzed 981 colorectal cancer genomes from early-onset and late-onset colorectal cancer patients across 11 countries. (iStock)
The study, which was funded by Cancer Research UK, was published in the journal Nature on April 23.
“The key takeaway is that exposure to colibactin is likely a major contributor to early-onset colorectal cancer,” senior author Ludmil Alexandrov, professor in the Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering and the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at UC San Diego, told Fox News Digital.
“They could be decades ahead of schedule for developing colorectal cancer.”
In the study, the researchers analyzed 981 colorectal cancer genomes from early-onset and late-onset colorectal cancer patients across 11 countries.
Those who had prior exposure to colibactin were found to have specific mutations in their DNA, which have been shown to mainly occur in the first decade of life — “placing children on an accelerated path to developing cancer as young adults.”
Exposure to the bacterial toxin during early childhood can alter the DNA of colon cells in a way that increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer before age 50, the study found. (iStock)
That group was 3.3 times more likely to develop early-onset colorectal cancer compared to those who were diagnosed after 70.
These mutations were found to make up 15% of the early genetic alterations that increase colorectal cancer risk.
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“We detected the mutational signature of colibactin in over 50% of colorectal tumors from patients under 40, compared to less than 10% in tumors from older individuals,” Alexandrov noted.
“If someone acquires one of these driver mutations by the time they’re 10 years old, they could be decades ahead of schedule for developing colorectal cancer, getting it at age 40 instead of 60,” noted Alexandrov.
The fact that a microbial exposure in the first few years of life can leave a “lasting genomic imprint” and likely contribute to cancer in adulthood is both “remarkable and sobering,” according to the researcher.
“It’s a reminder that there are likely many other such exposures we’ve yet to uncover, and that the way we nurture and protect children during these formative years may have long-term implications for their lifelong health,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“From my perspective, investing in early-life prevention, healthy living and research is not just important — it’s essential.”
Dr. Emil Lou, MD, PhD, a board-certified oncologist and internal medicine physician at the University of Minnesota, agrees that the microbiome – “the constellation of microbes that includes bacteria that live under normal circumstances in our gut” — is one potential culprit of early-onset colorectal cancer.
“It is less surprising now than it was a decade ago that any form of bacteria – more specifically, a toxin derived from bacteria – could be associated with and potentially be the primary cause of cancer,” Lou, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.
“What is especially concerning is the long period of time that might lapse between exposure to the bacteria early in life, and the time before the related cancer is diagnosed.”
Potential limitations
Alexandrov pointed out that the study provides “strong genomic evidence” of a “striking association” between colibactin and early-onset colorectal cancer, but cannot prove causation.
“Demonstrating unequivocal causality — proving that colibactin alone is sufficient to initiate cancer in humans — remains a significant challenge,” he told Fox News Digital.
Colorectal cancer cases have doubled among adults under 50 for each of the past two decades, statistics show. (iStock)
“Definitive proof of causality would require long-term prospective studies beginning in early childhood to monitor microbial colonization and track cancer development over several decades.”
Lou agreed with this limitation, noting the complexity of cancer factors.
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“There are many aspects of our environment – both within and outside of our bodies – that can play a role in development of cancer,” he said. “It is difficult to say or conclude whether any given single factor – in this case, the bacteria-derived toxin – is the true or even a major cause of colorectal cancer.”
“Providing evidence of potential association sets the foundation for more in-depth studies to determine whether there is true cause and effect,” Lou added.
“If current trends continue, colorectal cancer is projected to become the leading cause of cancer-related death among young adults by 2030.”
Alexandrov noted that while the findings don’t yet warrant changes to screening or treatment guidelines, they do highlight the “critical role of early-life microbial exposures” in terms of long-term cancer risk.
“We are actively working on developing screening tests to detect the long-term effects of colibactin exposure, with the goal of translating these findings into practical prevention strategies in the near future,” he added.
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Colorectal cancer cases have doubled among adults under 50 for each of the past two decades, statistics show.
“If current trends continue, colorectal cancer is projected to become the leading cause of cancer-related death among young adults by 2030,” the researchers concluded.
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Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27.
In a post on Substack titled “The Day I’ll Never Remember,” she detailed a sudden episode that left her unable to recall the current month, year and president.
“I thought it was 2024. And I believed Joe Biden was president,” she wrote.
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The event occurred while Couric was attending the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, during which she participated in two public panels — one on AI and one on journalism — both of which she cannot remember at all.
“I have no idea what we talked about, or of what occurred when the panels ended,” she said.
Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27. (Getty Images)
John Molner — Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels — also shared his account.
After the event, someone told Molner that Katie wasn’t feeling well. When he reached her, an EMT and a doctor were tending to her. “I could tell something was off,” he wrote. “It could have been altitude sickness, but Katie was definitely not all there.”
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At the hospital, when Couric struggled to recall the year, the president and her grandchildren’s names, doctors began checking for a stroke.
An MRI revealed no signs of stroke, which was a relief, but “Katie’s ‘fog’ became a lot more apparent,” Molner wrote.
John Molner, Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels, also shared his account. (Getty Images)
“She repeatedly asked me the same questions: ‘What was I doing before we got to the hospital?’ ‘Why am I at the hospital?’”
Couric was ultimately diagnosed with transient global amnesia, a sudden, temporary episode of memory loss that prevents a person from forming new memories and may also erase some recent memories, according to Mayo Clinic.
“The cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself.”
It is not caused by a stroke, seizure or head injury, and it usually resolves completely within 24 hours.
“[It’s] just a very weird neural episode that’s pretty uncommon and, at least in most cases, is a ‘one and done’ experience,” Molner said.
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Couric said she finally began feeling “like herself” again around 9 p.m. and went to sleep at 2 a.m.
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.”
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.” (Getty Images)
Data shows that approximately three to eight people per 100,000 will have an episode of transient global amnesia, with people 50 years of age and older at higher risk.
The specific cause of TGA is not known, but some experts believe it stems from a “temporary dysfunction in the brain’s hippocampus — the area responsible for creating new memories,” Couric shared.
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“Doctors believe this is driven by brief interruptions in blood or oxygen flow, or microscopic spasm in the blood vessels.”
Episodes could potentially be triggered by intense physical exertion, emotional distress, extreme temperature changes or migraines, experts say.
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Approximately 15% of patients will have a recurrence 10 years later.
“Why did this happen to me? Was the altitude an issue? Was I dehydrated? Tired? Stressed? The literature doesn’t seem to indicate that these are contributing factors, but the cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself,” Couric wrote.
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise. (iStock)
“All I know is that those hours will be forever lost. Someone described it as my brain failing to hit the ‘record button.’”
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“While this was a freaky occurrence, it could have been much more serious. So ultimately, I’m relieved — even though several hours of a Saturday in June will always be missing for me.”
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise.
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Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers.
That’s according to a recent study led by Stony Brook Medicine in New York, which evaluated the cognitive function of 4,000 adults 80 and over who participated in multiple aging and longevity studies over several years.
Among this group, 6% to 10% were classified as super movers, which means they walk at a much faster pace than others of the same age and gender — at speeds comparable to people three decades younger.
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The super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed.
The findings were published in the journal Neurology on June 16.
Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers. (iStock)
“The study reinforces that mobility and brain health are closely connected,” lead study author Dr. Joe Verghese, MD, neurologist at Stony Brook Medicine, told Fox News Digital. “This suggests that preserving mobility may be an important marker of healthy brain aging and resilience.”
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The most intriguing finding, according to Verghese, was that super movers maintained cognitive function despite having similar dementia-related brain changes as their peers.
In postmortem brain analysis, there was no difference in dementia-related pathologies between the super movers and the slower walkers, the study stated.
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“This suggests they may possess resilience mechanisms that help preserve brain function even in the presence of age-related changes,” he said. “Understanding these resilience factors could lead to new strategies for promoting healthy brain aging.”
As the study was observational, there were some limitations, and it does not prove that walking faster prevents dementia, the researchers noted.
Super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed. (iStock)
“Other factors, such as cardiovascular health, physical fitness or genetics, may also contribute to both faster walking and better cognitive outcomes,” Verghese said.
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This study adds to growing evidence that what’s good for the heart and muscles also benefits the brain, he noted, adding that “staying physically active remains one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to support healthy aging.”
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment.”
“The broader message is that physical activity is important at any age,” Verghese said. “Walking is an easy step-up point because you don’t need any special equipment. You can do it inside or outdoors, and you can do it on a regular basis. You can walk with a dog, you can walk with a friend.”
Any activity is beneficial if it’s done regularly and with the right intensity, he added.
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Rather than just trying to walk faster, the neurologist recommends that seniors focus on maintaining mobility through regular physical activity, strength training, balance exercises and good cardiovascular health.
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment,” Verghese noted.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking. (iStock)
This can be achieved by walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or about 20 to 25 minutes most days. Another option is to engage in shorter sessions that add up over the day.
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“You have to do it within your health limitations and medical conditions,” Verghese advised. “So if there are any medical concerns, I would get your physician to clear you before starting exercise.” The good thing about walking, he added, is that you can start at a slow pace and then gradually build up to a brisker pace.
“And then adding on strength and balance training, whatever age you are, I think is also important.”
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