10. Age as a Predictor: Why Polyps Become More Common as You Get Older
It’s an uncomfortable truth that age increases the likelihood of many health concerns, and colon polyps are no exception. As people age, the occurrence of these growths tends to rise, a phenomenon widely acknowledged in medical circles. However, the question “why?” is far from answered.
One theory is cellular aging, which might make the colon lining more susceptible to polyp formation. This proposition is backed by the observation that older adults often have a higher accumulation of genetic mutations, which could contribute to abnormal cell growth.
However, aging is not a solitary process but is influenced by a lifetime of environmental and genetic factors. For example, an older individual has had more exposure to environmental toxins, which could, in theory, affect their risk of polyp formation. This adds a chronological depth to the topic, hinting at a lifetime’s worth of influences converging as one ages.
Another intriguing perspective is the lifetime wear-and-tear on the colon. After decades of use, the colon has processed thousands of meals, been exposed to various chemicals, and likely suffered bouts of inflammation. Could this “life experience” be a contributing factor to the higher prevalence of polyps in older individuals?
Age-related changes in hormone levels could also be at play here. Hormones like insulin and its like-minded cousins (insulin-like growth factors) have been implicated in cell proliferation. As these hormone levels fluctuate with age, they could influence polyp growth rates. (10)
