Telomeres and Aging

Discover the connection between stress, telomeres and aging and how to prevent accelerated telomere shortening for a healthier long life.

Research into chromosomes and the end caps that protect them shows that physical and mental stress contribute to accelerated aging. It also suggests that certain supplements, exercising smart, and reducing stress can protect and even lengthen telomeres to turn back the hands of time.

What are Telomeres?

Telomeres are the protective "caps" on each end of the chromosomes. They allow cells to replicate, or divide, without damaging the DNA inside them.

Every time a cell divides, a little bit of telomere shortening naturally occurs. If they get too short and the cell divides,the ends of the chromosomes can fray or stick to each other. This scrambles the genetic information and can lead to cancer, other diseases and death.

Normally, a cell can copy itself about 50 times before the end caps get too short. Eventually, when telomere shortening reaches a certain point the cell stops dividing itself. These cells die and are replaced with new ones. Skin cells and stem cells are two types of cells that divide this way.

Heart and nerve cells do not divide. Younger cells, immune cells, and reproductive cells (sperm and eggs) produce an enzyme called telemerase that keeps the caps long. This allows these cells to copy themselves indefinitely.

Scientists believe there is a connection between telomeres and aging. Although there are other more factors related to aging, it appears that the length of your telomeres correlates to your biological age.

The longer your end caps, the more youthful you are. That means your brain, organs and systems function better.

Likewise, shorter end caps indicate cellular aging. Short telomeres are linked with HIV, osteoporosis, cancers and higher risk of dying from a heart attack.

Stress and Telomere Shortening

Stress has been shown to speed up telomere shortening.

Free radicals, inflammation, toxins and even lack of sleep stress your body and negatively affect telomerase production.

Physical stress is not the only culprit in cell aging. Mental stress also has a huge impact on the your cells.

The stress hormone cortisol causes white blood cells to age faster. It suppresses their protective telemorase production so their end caps shorten and you become more susceptible to illness and premature aging.

Cell biologist, Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn has proven that psychological stress accelerates aging. A study of mothers caring for chronically ill children showed that the longer care was given, the lower the mother's telomerase and the shorter her telomeres had become.

Another study of healthy premenopausal women showed that women experiencing chronic stress had shorter end caps than the low-stress group. This shortening happened at the rate of ten years faster.

A 2011 study (CG Parks et al) showed that telomeres of full time working women were significantly shorter than their non-working counterparts.

Each of these studies showed clear evidence of the relationship between stress, telomeres and aging.

This interesting video by Drs. Oz and Roizen explain why and how this happens and an easy way to help yourself calm your body's stress response.

Although aging is inevitable, protecting your cells by reducing all kinds of stress can help you live a longer, healthier life. There is much to learn about how to activate telomerase and turn back the clock.

Early research shows evidence that an expensive supplement called TA-65 from astragalus root activates telomerase, causing end caps to lengthen. It also looks promising that omega 3 fish oil, supporting your body's detoxification processes, relaxing and clearing your mind, and interval exercises all have a positive effect on telomeres and aging.

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