Telomeres: Why Do People Age At Different Rate?
-
by a.valuntukeviciute
- Last update on
Photo by Uknown
People have been asking this question for millennia since we could first count the years and compare ourselves to our neighbors.
While some believe we are born with a predetermined fate that governs our health and lifespan, I’m about to flip the script on this traditional thinking and take you on a journey to prevent premature cellular aging and even reverse it.
Aging hides under the condition of telomeres; therefore, this article will explore the mechanics of telomeres, their influence on aging, and the various factors that impact their length and function.
Join me on this journey of discovery to unlock the secrets of slow aging – who doesn’t want to feel great when they reach their x anniversary?
How do telomeres dictate the aging process?
What are telomeres?
Telomeres are like plastic tabs on a shoelace. They protect the ends of chromosomes from unraveling and becoming damaged or fused with other chromosomes.
Telomeres give a hand in cell division.
When our cells divide, they do crucial functions such as:
- growing from one cell into a full adult,
- replacing our damaged and dead cells,
- reproducing (getting pregnant),
- maintaining the shape and structure of tissues and organs.
Each time cells divide, a small amount of the telomere is lost, eventually resulting in its shortening. Once they become too short, the cells can no longer divide and become senescent.
This process is believed to play a role in aging and is linked to age-related diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s. Therefore, scientists are interested in finding ways to protect or lengthen telomeres as a potential strategy for combating age-related diseases.
Photo by The Heart Revolution
The Length of Telomeres: What Triggers Aging At Different Rate?
The length of our telomeres can measure your health at the cellular level. You can do this by using a sample taken from the inside of your cheek.
Short telomeres are a sign that illness may lie ahead.
When our telomeres are too short to protect our chromosomes, our genetic material will likely not be copied perfectly in cell division, and cells may go senescence.
So what triggers fast telomeres decay?
Telomeres And Unhealthy Habits
While telomere shortening is a natural part of aging, adverse lifestyle practices can shorten telomeres such that you actualize the metaphor of burning the candle at both ends. Slamming junk food, blasting artificial light after dark, smoking, lack of exercise, exposure to environmental toxins, and chronic stress will burn down the wicks on your cellular candles – your telomeres – more quickly.
Telomeres and Genetics
Certain genetic disorders can cause dysfunction of telomeres; therefore, genetic factors can also influence the length of telomeres. Some individuals inherit longer or shorter telomeres than others.
Aging at different rate / Photo by Logan Weaver on Unsplash
What can we do to protect our telomeres?
Telomeres get worn down like the before mentioned burning candle as our cells divide over our lifetime – at either a healthy or accelerated rate, based on our lifestyle behaviors or genetics.
But a candle with harder wax can burn longer than a softer wax. And what if this “hard” candle composition approach you could use to benefit your health and preserve telomeres to serve you for many more healthy years?
How?
According to scientist Dr. Elizabeth Balck Burn and her collaborators, who won a Nobel Prize in 2009 for discovering telomeres, it’s possible to lengthen telomeres.
As telomeres offer protection for our chromosomes, our cells also have built-in protection for telomeres: telomerase, an enzyme that can help repair and lengthen shortened and frayed telomeres.
Healthy lifestyle behaviors, including:
- intermittent fasting,
- regular exercise,
- enough sleep,
- meditation,
- gratitude practices,
- stress reduction
- thriving social life
can actually lengthen our telomeres, potentially slowing aging and reducing the risk of age-related diseases.
Many studies are proving healthy lifestyle behaviors contribute to extended telomeres.
A study published in The Lancet Oncology in 2013 found that a lifestyle program that included a diet low in fat and sugar, daily exercise, and stress management techniques led to an increase in telomere length in men with early-stage prostate cancer.
Another study published in Advances in Nutrition in 2020 found that a Mediterranean diet complemented with nuts and extra-virgin olive oil was associated with longer telomeres in older adults.
Mediterranean diet / Video by Author
Why Should We Be Careful With Telomerase Activation?
It’s important to note that while telomerase can repair and lengthen telomeres, it can also contribute to the growth of cancer cells that continue dividing and multiplying uncontrollably.
Given these scary-sounding findings, why am I suggesting lifestyle behaviors that boost telomerase? The answer is that there is a big difference between the body’s normal physiological responses to the lifestyle suggestions and taking or using artificial substances such as stem cell therapy, TAM-818 (a synthetic agent similar to cycloastragenol), Epitalon (a synthetic peptide), TAT2 (a HILS1-derived peptide).
Some studies suggest these compounds have anti-aging or anti-cancer effects by promoting telomere elongation and cell division. However, the FDA has not approved any of them for medical use, and there is a risk that they may cause side effects, such as immunosuppression, liver toxicity, or tumor growth, depending on the dose and duration of use. Therefore, it is essential to consult your doctor and not to self-administer any telomerase activity extenders.
Therefore, while it’s crucial to maintain and protect our telomeres, it’s equally important to monitor and address any potential risks associated with telomerase activation.
Slow down the rate of aging
As we age, telomeres become shorter, leading to declining tissue function and overall health. Shortened telomeres may trigger various age-related diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and disorders like osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes.
Telomerase, the enzyme that restores cell division, can rebuild telomeres. A healthy lifestyle with a nutritious diet, sufficient physical activity, sleep, and stress control can activate the age-repairing mechanism. However, artificial telomerase activators are not recommended for extending disease-free human life as their safety and efficacy are still being researched.
You can already slow down the rate of cell aging today. All you have to do is systematically incorporate one step towards a healthier lifestyle. What can it be for you? Giving up sweets and finding a healthier alternative? 1000 steps outside?
Do you see how you can control the rate at which your inner candle burns?
Loved what you read? Share it! Sharing is a new caring!