How Ageing Increases the Risk for Cancer Development
I agree that the chances of developing cancer increases with age. The incidence and mortality rates for most cancer types increase with age. Aging is an increased risk of numerous diseases and progressive deterioration of various physiological functions (Lian, et al., 2020). Research indicates the morbidity and mortality rates of different tumors increase with age, making age the biggest risk factor for cancer development. Most senescent cells behave abnormally with age resulting in tumor development (Lian, et al., 2020). Aging is associated with the accumulation of DNA damage and cellular senescence. Other risk factors associated with aging include oxidative stress accumulation, which results from exposure to prolonged endogenous metabolic insults. Immune system aging leads to a decline in immune functions, increasing cancer risk in older persons. The immune system has an important role in antitumor response, initiation, and progression of tumors. A decline in the immune system due to aging enhances cancer development.
How Genetics Is Involved in Ageing
I support the idea that genetics has a significant role in aging. Aging causes the accumulation of mutations and high loads of DNA damage. DNA repair becomes less efficient and more error-prone with age (Lagunas-Rangel & Bermúdez-Cruz, 2019). Though damage to various cellular constituents causes aging, DNA is the key target constituent in the aging process. Genome instability, which results from unrepaired DNA damage, epimutations accumulation, and DNA mutations, is a major cause of aging(Lagunas-Rangel & Bermúdez-Cruz, 2019). Defects in genome maintenance cause multi-system premature gaining syndromes, which trigger the emergence of aging hallmarks. Aging is associated with the deterioration of DNA repair systems, leads to the malfunctioning of cells, and consequently contributes to most chronic diseases such as cancer. The age-related changes to DNA repair systems cause a decline in physiological functions and increase the risk for cancer development.
References
Lagunas-Rangel, F. A. & Bermúdez-Cruz, R. M. (Ed.). (2019). The role of DNA repair in cellular aging process: DNA repair- an update. IntechOpen.
Lian, J., Yue, Y., Yu, W., & Zhang, Y. (2020). Immunosenescence: A key player in cancer development. Journal of Hematology & Oncology, 13(1), 1-18. Web.