Explore the science of telomeres, their role in aging, and evidence-based strategies that may preserve telomere length.
Telomeres—the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes—have become a popular focus of anti-aging research. As these caps shorten with each cell division, they serve as a kind of biological clock. But can we slow or reverse telomere shortening? Here is what the science actually shows.
Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences (TTAGGG in humans) at chromosome ends:
Telomerase is an enzyme that can lengthen telomeres:
Studies associate shorter telomeres with:
Exercise consistently associates with longer telomeres: