Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/510259
damage pathways, and regulate cellular aging. e telomeres, which are tiny units of DNA at the very end of each chromosome, shorten with time because they cannot replicate completely each time the cell divides. Hence, as you get older, your telomeres get shorter and shorter, until, eventually, DNA replication and cell division ceases completely and you die. Short telomeres are therefore a potent risk factor for a number of diseases including: • Decreased immune response against infections • Type 2 diabetes • Atherosclerotic lesions • Neurodegenerative diseases • Testicular, splenic, intestinal atrophy • DNA damage Telomere shortening is now thought to be a major key that explains the process of aging itself, and holds the promise of not just slowing aging, but potentially reversing it. Animal studies have shown that these types of health problems can be reversed by restoring telomerase functioning – a particular enzyme that helps "rebuild" your telomeres. It stands to reason that your lifestyle can either speed up or slow down telomere shortening, and research bears this out. Obesity, lack of exercise, psychological stress, and smoking all cause production of free radicals that can cleave telomeres and significantly speed up the telomere-shortening process. Exercise, on the other hand, has been shown to decrease telomere shortening, thereby promoting longevity. Active People Tend to have Longer Telomeres Recent research found that the white blood cell telomere length in women who were moderately or highly active had a 0.07 standard deviation increase. According to authors, "Greater moderate or vigorous- intensity activity was also associated with increased [telomere length]… Associations remained aer adjustment for body mass index… Although associations were modest, these findings suggest that even moderate amounts of activity may be associated with longer telomeres, warranting further investigation in large prospective studies." Exercise has also been shown to have a buffering effect, protecting your telomeres from the damaging impact of chronic psychological stress. A 2010 study that included 63 healthy post-menopausal women found that, "Vigorous physical activity appears to protect those experiencing high stress by buffering its relationship with telomere length (TL)." In fact, among the women who did not exercise, each unit increase in the Perceived Stress Scale was related to a 15-fold increase in the odds of having short telomeres. ose who did exercise regularly showed no correlation between telomere length and perceived stress! For more information about telomeres, Greta Blackburn's book e Immortality Edge: Realize the Secrets of Your Telomeres for a Longer, Healthier Life does a nice job of expanding on this. Her book provides a great overview of this fascinating and groundbreaking realm of longevity research. Being able to reduce telomere shortening – essentially slowing down Page 24 | Abby's Magazine - www.AbbysHealthAndNutrition.com