Aging is a major risk factor for many cancers, but scientists have been working to understand why. A new study from a team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania has shown that the aging process alters a protein in our cells that can make us more susceptible to cancer. The protein, known as p53, is a critical factor in the body’s natural defense against cancer and aging affects its function. The team found that aging impairs the protein’s ability to bind to DNA, which limits its ability to regulate genes that can prevent cells from becoming cancerous. This discovery could be a major breakthrough in understanding how aging increases our risk of cancer and could lead to new treatments to prevent or delay the development of cancer.

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source: Phys.org