The rise of early-onset cancers; new NASEM report urges action on Lyme infection-associated chronic illness; even short-term sleep loss raises risk of heart disease – Morning Medical Update

Author(s):

Austin Littrell

Fact checked by:

Keith A. Reynolds

Key Takeaways

Early-onset cancer rates are increasing, especially in women, with breast, colorectal, kidney, and uterine cancers most affected.
Obesity, delayed childbirth, and improved screening may contribute to rising early-onset cancer rates.
NASEM report calls for treatment trials for Lyme infection-associated chronic illness, affecting up to 20% of patients.
Short-term sleep deprivation can cause molecular changes linked to heart disease, underscoring sleep's importance for cardiovascular health.

The top news stories in medicine today.

Early-onset cancers are rising — especially in women under 50

Rates of cancer before age 50 are increasing in the U.S., with the steepest rises seen in breast, colorectal, kidney and uterine cancers, according to a new National Cancer Institute (NCI) study. The analysis of more than 2 million cases from 2010 to 2019 found women accounted for 63% of early-onset cancers, with obesity, delayed childbirth and improved screening among possible factors. While death rates remained stable for most cancers, they rose for colorectal, uterine and testicular cancer. Researchers say more study is urgently needed to understand the trend. More from the Associated Press.

New NASEM report urges action on Lyme infection-associated chronic illness

A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) report released May 7 calls on research funders to prioritize treatment trials for Lyme infection-associated chronic illness (IACI), which affects up to 20% of Lyme disease patients with lingering symptoms like pain, fatigue and brain fog. With no validated therapies currently available, the report says waiting for a full understanding of disease mechanisms is delaying relief for patients. It recommends launching well-designed trials now to improve quality of life, while continuing basic research to uncover the biological roots of the condition. Find the full report here.

Even short-term sleep loss raises risk of heart disease

Just a few nights of poor sleep can trigger molecular changes linked to heart disease, according to a new study from Uppsala University. In healthy young men, sleep deprivation raised levels of inflammatory proteins associated with heart failure and coronary artery disease. Published in Biomarker Research, the study also found that while exercise still produced benefits after sleep loss, it couldn’t fully counteract the cardiovascular impact. Researchers say the findings reinforce the importance of sleep for heart health — even early in life.