Featured Image Credit: Getty stock images
Topics: Colon cancer, Cancer, Health
Callum Jones
Scientists have discovered a possible link between the development of colon cancer and a 'silent' condition that affects more than 80 million people in the US.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in America, with 153,020 being diagnosed with the disease in 2023 and over 52,000 people losing their lives, according to experts.
The cancer has seemingly been on the rise in younger people for the past few years, and research is going into uncovering why this worrying trend is happening.
And one study has looked into how a rise in colon cancer in younger people may be due to a hidden condition that often displays little to no symptoms.
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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is used to describe a range of conditions caused by a build-up of fat in the liver.
The NHS website explains how it's typically seen in those who are overweight or obese.
While NAFLD does not usually cause any harm, it can lead to serious liver damage if it progresses to an advanced stage.
And having high levels of fat in your liver is also associated with an increased risk of serious health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease.
A team of researchers in South Korea found that people who are under the age of 50 and have a history of NAFLD were close to 24 percent more likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer as opposed to those without the condition.
While those who showed early signs of the condition had a 12 percent higher chance of developing the cancer compared to those without a history of NAFLD.
Of course, researchers reiterated further investigation is needed to establish the facts, but they now have a pretty good idea of how colon cancer can develop from the 'silent' condition.
Basically, inflammation caused by NAFLD could travel to the colon, damaging cell DNA in the process, which could ultimately lead to the formation of cancer cells.
In the study, which was published in ScienceDirect, the experts said: "Our findings revealed a strong link between NAFLD and early-onset CRC in young adults, suggesting the importance of implementing effective preventive strategies, particularly in populations with a growing burden of metabolic dysfunction.
"These findings highlight the need for multifaceted preventive strategies, including lifestyle interventions and expanded screening for younger populations with NAFLD."
No doubt some scientists are already brainstorming ideas on where to go next with the studies.