BYLINE: Harrisburg University empowers society through science, technology, and innovation.
Newswise — Recent research is highlighting a concerning trend: cancer rates are rising among millennials and younger adults, even as rates fall in older populations.
Scientists point to a range of modern lifestyle and environmental factors, from ultra-processed foods and disrupted sleep patterns to widespread exposure to synthetic chemicals and microplastics, that may be accelerating biological aging and increasing cancer risk.
Harrisburg University’s Richard Jackson, MD, Associate Professor of Chemistry, is available to provide expert insight into these findings. He can explain how the cumulative environmental exposures across a person’s lifetime, starting before birth, may interact with genetics and biology to shape early-onset cancer risk.
Dr. Jackson can also discuss emerging research on diet, circadian rhythm disruption, and chemical exposures, as well as how population datasets and advanced analytics are helping scientists decode these complex patterns.
Dr. Jackson can provide context on why millennials appear to be aging biologically faster than previous generations, what that means for long-term health trends beyond cancer, and help translate the data into actionable guidance for the public, while clarifying what is known and what remains uncertain.
Dr. Jackson is available for interviews and commentary; please reach out directly if you’d like to connect with him or contact Dan Wilhelm, Communications Manager for Harrisburg University, to set up a meeting.