Is Your Gut Health At Risk? New Study Reveals How Colon Stiffness Could Mean A Higher Risk Of Colorectal Cancer

For years, doctors have been puzzled by a worrying trend in terms of colon health. Research suggests that while colon cancer cases are dropping in people over 50, they are rising quickly in younger adults.

A new study from the University of Texas may have found a physical reason why: the stiffness of the colon.

The findings, published in the journal Advanced Science, were based on a study of intestinal tissue from patients who had surgery for colon cancer. Researchers analyzed 33 total samples—19 from older patients and 14 from those under 50. In each case, they looked at both the cancerous tumor and the healthy tissue surrounding it to see how they compared.As per reports, researchers have found that chronic inflammation, which refers to long-term irritation in the gut, can cause the colon tissue to become stiff and scarred. This stiffness isn't just a side effect; it actually could be causing cancer to grow and spread faster.

As per the study undertaken by the team, they looked at tissue samples from patients with "early-onset" cancer (under 50) and "average-onset" cancer (over 50). They discovered a major difference: The tissue in younger patients was much harder and more rigid.Additionally, younger patients had collagen (a body protein) that was denser, longer, and more "aligned." This acted like a highway that helps cancer cells move. Younger tissues showed much higher signs of inflammation and "scarring" genes, even in the areas that weren't yet cancerous.Also Read: Masashi Ozaki Death: What is Sigmoid Colon Cancer and Why is It Always FatalThis is the first time scientists have looked at the physical "feel" of the colon rather than just genetics. Because the stiffness was found in the healthy tissue around the tumors too, it suggests that the colon becomes stiff before the cancer even starts. This discovery could help doctors find new ways to prevent cancer by treating inflammation and tissue stiffness before it turns into something deadly.