Young Cancer Survivors Face Early Aging, Dementia Risks

New research finds signs of faster biological aging and cognitive decline in teens and young adults who survive cancer.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A new study published in Nature Communications has found that teens and young adults who survive cancer appear to age more quickly than their peers who have never had the disease. The research, led by scientists at the University of Rochester Wilmot Cancer Institute and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, discovered signs of faster aging not only within cells but also in brain performance, including memory, attention, and information processing abilities.

Why it matters

Many young cancer survivors are working towards important life milestones like finishing school, starting careers, and building families. The cognitive challenges they face due to accelerated aging can make these goals harder to achieve. Understanding this issue is crucial to helping young survivors live longer, healthier lives.

The details

The study included around 1,400 participants treated at St. Jude, all at least 5 years beyond their cancer therapy. Most had been treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia or Hodgkin lymphoma. Researchers found evidence of faster biological aging regardless of the type of treatment, but chemotherapy appeared to have the strongest effect on the aging process. The investigators also identified a close connection between cellular aging and cognitive performance, with survivors whose biological age was higher struggling more with memory and attention.

  • The study's findings were published in the journal Nature Communications in 2026.

The players

AnnaLynn Williams

A PhD researcher at the University of Rochester Wilmot Cancer Institute and the study's lead author.

Kevin Krull

A PhD researcher at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the study's co-corresponding author.

John Ashton

The director of the Genomics Shared Resource at the Wilmot Cancer Institute, who collaborated on the study's analysis.

Wilmot Cancer Institute

A cancer research and treatment center at the University of Rochester that focuses on reducing long-term symptoms in survivors.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

A pediatric treatment and research facility where the study participants were treated for their cancers.

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What they’re saying

“Young cancer survivors have many more decades of life to live. So, if these accelerated aging changes are occurring early on and setting them on a different trajectory, the goal is to intervene to not only increase their lifespan but improve their quality of life.”

— AnnaLynn Williams, PhD, University of Rochester Wilmot Cancer Institute (Mirage News)

“It's kind of like a perfect storm. This is why we see many survivors having worse educational and employment outcomes than their siblings.”

— AnnaLynn Williams, PhD, University of Rochester Wilmot Cancer Institute (Mirage News)

What’s next

Ongoing work at the Wilmot Cancer Institute is exploring whether some of the accelerated aging seen in young survivors could potentially be slowed or reversed through healthy lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, exercising regularly, and improving diet.

The takeaway

This research highlights the critical need to support young cancer survivors as they navigate the challenges of accelerated aging and cognitive decline. Developing interventions to counteract these effects could significantly improve their long-term health and quality of life.