People over the age of 40 can also get leukemia. Leukemia is generally age-neutral, except that it is relatively more common in children and the elderly. The causes of leukemia are mainly related to biological factors, physical factors, chemical factors, genetic factors and some other factors.
1. Biological factors: mainly viral infection and abnormal immune function, in which adult T-cell leukemia is mainly caused by human T-lymphotropic virus type I infection. When the virus infects the organism, it integrates and lurks in the cells as endogenous virus, and is activated to induce leukemia under the action of certain physical and chemical factors, so people in their 40’s can also get leukemia.
2. Physical factors: such as X-rays, γ-rays and other ionizing radiation, according to research, large area and large dose of irradiation, can promote bone marrow suppression and decline in immunity, leading to DNA mutation, breakage, etc., thus inducing leukemia.
3. Chemical factors: years of exposure to benzene and organic solvents containing benzene can also induce leukemia. Especially ethylbimorpholine has a relatively strong chromosomal aberration and leukemia-causing effect.
4. Heredity: familial leukemia accounts for about 0.7% of leukemia, so for people over 40 years old who have familial leukemia, leukemia may also occur.
5. Other: Some blood diseases may also turn into leukemia in the process of development, such as myelodysplastic syndromes.
Therefore, no matter what age people are, leukemia may be induced by high-risk factors, and once abnormalities occur, they need to go to the hospital in time.