Puberty Age Predicts Risk of Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease in New Study

Puberty age can affect people's risk of developing several diseases, ranging from diabetes to cancer, a new study reported. Puberty age can also affect the onset of certain conditions, such as menopause.

For this study, the research team from the MRC Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom analyzed data on about half a million people. The data came from the UK Biobank, a large study that collected information on the health of British people.

The team examined the start of puberty in both girls and boys and grouped them accordingly. For girls, early puberty was between the ages of eight and 11 and late puberty was between the ages of 15 and 19 measured via first period date. For boys, normal puberty was between nine and 14-years-old.

The researchers were able to link early and late puberty to conditions and diseases such as cancers (breast and cervical), heart attacks, angina, hypertension, early menopause, preeclampsia, stillbirth, asthma, obesity, depression and glaucoma.

"From a biological point of view, it's actually quite fascinating that something that happens when you're a teenager can have an effect on diseases that you wouldn't encounter until middle age. I find that quite astonishing," Dr. Felix Day explained to BBC News. "The move towards earlier puberty is an added risk factor in terms of development of particularly metabolic diseases."

The researchers believe that puberty age affects these conditions via hormones. However, the team did not find a cause-and-effect relationship and could only conclude that puberty age altered people's odds of developing certain diseases.

"We are continuing to work to understand how puberty timing impacts later health and how this information may be used alongside efforts to support healthy lifestyle changes and prevent disease," Dr. John Perry, from the MRC Epidemiology Unit. "It is important to note that the increase in disease risk attributable to puberty timing is still relatively modest and represents one of many factors that contribute to the overall risk of developing disease."

The study was published in Scientific Reports.