Study links poor sleep to rising early-onset cancer in under-50s

The Story

Two large studies presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting suggest poor sleep may be contributing to a global rise in cancer diagnoses among people under 50. Researchers from MD Anderson Cancer Center analysed health data for more than 18 million US adults aged 18-50 and found that those with poor sleeping patterns were more likely to develop early-onset bowel, breast, uterine or ovarian cancer. In some cases, under-50s diagnosed with insomnia were three times more likely to develop cancer within five years.

Key Facts

• The number of younger people diagnosed with cancer has risen by almost 80% in three decades, from 1.82 million cases in 1990 to 3.26 million in 2019.
• Cancer deaths among people in their 40s, 30s or younger rose by 27% over the same period.
• The studies analysed health data for more than 18 million US adults aged 18-50.
• Poor sleeping patterns were linked to a higher likelihood of early-onset bowel, breast, uterine or ovarian cancer.
• Under-50s diagnosed with insomnia were three times more likely to develop cancer within five years in some cases.
• The researchers stated: “These findings suggest that sleep disruption may represent a clinically relevant, potentially modifiable risk factor in early-onset cancer risk stratification and warrants further investigation.”
• More than 1 million under-50s die from cancer each year, according to research published in BMJ Oncology.
• Experts not involved in the studies, including Claire Coughlan (Bowel Cancer UK), Dr David Garley (Better Sleep Clinic), and Megan Winter (Cancer Research UK), welcomed the findings but called for further research to understand the link.

Conflicting Reports

No conflicting reports identified in the source article.

Still Unclear

• Whether sleep disruption directly causes cancer in under-50s or whether other factors (e.g., lifestyle, undetected cancer affecting sleep) explain the association.
• The exact physiological mechanisms linking insomnia to early-onset cancer.

Misconceptions

No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.

Key Figures

• Researchers from MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (study authors)
• Claire Coughlan, clinical lead at Bowel Cancer UK
• Dr David Garley, GP and director of the Better Sleep Clinic, Bristol, England
• Megan Winter, health information manager at Cancer Research UK

Sources: The Guardian