What are telomeres and how do they influence how long you could live?

Summary

These studies suggest telomeres are protective DNA-protein complexes at the ends of chromosomes that maintain genome stability, influence ageing and longevity, and are associated with health conditions like cancer and ageing-related diseases.

Introduction

Telomeres are repetitive DNA-protein complexes located at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. They play a crucial role in maintaining genomic stability and cellular health. The enzyme telomerase is essential for the replication and maintenance of telomeres. Understanding telomere biology is significant for insights into ageing, disease mechanisms, and potential therapeutic interventions.

Key Insights

• Telomere Structure and Function:

  • Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences that protect chromosome ends from degradation and prevent them from being recognised as DNA damage.

  • Telomeres help maintain cellular health, metabolism, and the normal cell cycle.

• Telomerase and Telomere Maintenance:

  • Telomerase is a specialised enzyme that adds telomeric DNA to the ends of chromosomes, essential for telomere replication and maintenance.

  • Telomerase activity is tightly regulated and is crucial for cell immortalisation and long-term tumour growth.

• Telomere Shortening and Aging:

  • Telomeres shorten with each cell division, and this attrition is associated with ageing and age-related diseases.

  • Short telomeres are implicated in various disorders, including dyskeratosis congenita, aplastic anaemia, pulmonary fibrosis, and cancer.

• Genomic Stability and Disease:

  • Telomere loss can lead to genomic instability associated with cancer and other diseases.

  • Telomere length and maintenance are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, impacting health and longevity.

• Telomere Dynamics and Health:

  • Telomere length determines life expectancy, stress response, and the onset of aging-related diseases.

  • Individuals can influence their telomere dynamics through lifestyle choices such as diet, physical activity, and stress management.

How do you prevent the shortening?

• Maintain a healthy diet of antioxidants:

  • Foods high in antioxidants, like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains, may help protect telomeres from oxidative stress and damage. Antioxidants like vitamins C and E and plant compounds have been associated with longer telomere length.

• Exercise regularly:

  • Moderate exercise has been linked to longer telomere length, potentially due to increased antioxidant production and reduced inflammation. However, excessive endurance exercise may accelerate telomere shortening.

• Manage stress levels:

  • Chronic psychological stress is associated with increased oxidative stress and telomere attrition. Stress management techniques like meditation, yoga, and other relaxation methods may be beneficial.

• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight:

  • Obesity is linked to shorter telomere length, potentially due to increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Maintaining a healthy body weight through diet and exercise may help preserve telomeres.

• Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol:

  • Both smoking and heavy alcohol consumption have been associated with accelerated telomere shortening due to increased oxidative stress and inflammation.

• Get adequate sleep:

  • Poor sleep quality and sleep deprivation may contribute to telomere attrition, possibly due to increased oxidative stress and disrupted metabolic processes.

• Omega-3 fatty acid intake:

  • Some studies suggest that higher omega-3 fatty acid intake from foods like fatty fish or supplements may be associated with longer telomere length.

Conclusion

Telomeres are essential for protecting chromosome ends and maintaining genomic stability. The enzyme telomerase plays a critical role in telomere maintenance. Telomere shortening is a natural part of ageing linked to various age-related diseases. Understanding telomere biology provides valuable insights into ageing processes and disease mechanisms, highlighting the potential for therapeutic interventions to modulate telomere dynamics and improve health outcomes.

Sources:

1. S. Chatterjee et al. "Telomeres in health and disease." Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology : JOMFP, 21 (2017): 87 - 91.

2. J. Shay et al. "Telomeres and aging.." Current opinion in cell biology, 52 (2018): 1-7 .

3. V. Zakian et al. "Telomeres: Beginning to Understand the End." Science, 270 (1995): 1601 - 1607.

4. M. McEachern et al. "Telomeres and their control.." Annual review of genetics, 34 (2000): 331-358 .

5. E. Blackburn et al. "Human telomere biology: A contributory and interactive factor in aging, disease risks, and protection." Science, 350 (2015): 1193 - 1198.

6. N. O’Callaghan et al. "Telomere shortening in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment may be attenuated with ω-3 fatty acid supplementation: a randomized controlled pilot study.." Nutrition, 30 4 (2014): 489-91 .

7. Kayo Furumoto et al. "Age-dependent telomere shortening is slowed down by enrichment of intracellular vitamin C via suppression of oxidative stress.." Life sciences, 63 11 (1998): 935-48 .

8. T. Zglinicki et al. "Accumulation of single-strand breaks is the major cause of telomere shortening in human fibroblasts.." Free radical biology & medicine, 28 1 (2000): 64-74 .

9. Jenny Choi et al. "Reduced telomerase activity in human T lymphocytes exposed to cortisol." Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 22 (2008): 600-605.

10. Silvia Ehrlenbach et al. "Influences on the reduction of relative telomere length over 10 years in the population-based Bruneck Study: introduction of a well-controlled high-throughput assay.." International journal of epidemiology, 38 6 (2009): 1725-34 .

🌟 Thank you for joining us 

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for taking the time to read our newsletter. As qualified doctors, we want to learn more about optimising our health and the health of our loved ones with accurate and evidence-based information in an era where misinformation can cloud our understanding of health. We’re also the first to share this with the public because everyone deserves access to credible health insights.

💬 Your feedback is invaluable to us

Feedback fuels our motivation to continually improve and refine our content. Whether it's a suggestion or a correction, we welcome your input with open arms. After all, our goal is to cater to our combined curiosity and answer health-related questions. Just reply to this email 😄 

🌐 Topic Suggestion

We invite you to continue participating actively in our community as we progress. Share your thoughts, ask questions, and tell us what topics interest you. Is there a specific health condition you'd like us to cover? Are there wellness practices you're interested in exploring? Feel free to reach out to us with your thoughts and ideas. We're here to learn, share, and grow as a community of health enthusiasts. Feel free to hit reply to this email! Together, let's navigate the vast landscape of health with clarity and accuracy.

Thank you once again for being a part of our health-focused family. Stay curious, stay healthy, and stay connected!

Disclaimer:

By subscribing to and reading this newsletter, you acknowledge and agree that you voluntarily choose to read the content and use this information at your own risk.

The information provided in this newsletter, including text, graphics, images, and other material, is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The content is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified healthcare professional.

While the information is based on research, it should not be used to disregard or delay seeking advice from a healthcare provider. Always consult a healthcare professional before deciding about your health or medical conditions.

The authors of this newsletter, including qualified doctors, have made every effort to ensure that the information is accurate and current. However, medical knowledge is constantly evolving, and errors can occur. Therefore, this newsletter's authors, editors, and publishers cannot be held responsible for the information's accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any particular individual or situation.

This newsletter's authors, editors, and publishers are not liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary, or other damages arising from applying the information in this newsletter.