The Hidden Biology of Addiction and Cancer – BionicOldGuy

This is the title of a fascinating book by Dr. Raphael E. Cuomo, a professor at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. The main thesis is that addictive behaviors make us more susceptible to cancer. And addiction is not just substance abuse like drugs, alcohol, or smoking, but occurs in many other forms that are prevalent in our modern society. These include addiction to social media or other “screen forms” and craving unprocessed foods.

Dr. Cuomo shows in detail the ways in which these grow cancer risk, by a variety of mechanisms like weakening our immune systems, increasing chronic inflammation, throwing off insulin signaling, and debilitating repair mechanisms. Fortunately, this all can be improved by lifestyle changes like reduced screen time, better sleep, better diet, and exercise. This list is remarkably similar to what you would read about related to lifestyle and aging, so for me this was more motivation to continue to work on the lifestyle measures I’m already pursuing for healthy aging. I highly recommend this interesting and well-written book.