If aging is a disease, the best solution is …

r David Sinclair is a Professor in the Department of Genetics and co-Director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research at Harvard Medical School. He is best known for his work on understanding why we age and how to slow its effects. His new book “Life Span – Why we aging ,why we don’t have to […]

TELOMERE SHORTENING AND TELOMERASE

Telomere Shortening and Telomerase. ​Content What are telomeres?  ​Telomeres shorten with each cell division as we age ​Shorter telomeres. So what? Rates of telomere shortening vary from person to person: genetic and lifestyle factors. Controversial data ​Telomerase. A solution to the telomere shortening?  Maintaining or improving telomere length. Practical Recommendations  Summary References and literature​ ​ What are Telomeres?  Telomeres are sequences […]

What is a Telomere?

Telomere (tel-uh-meer) from the Greek telos (end) and meros (part). Telomeres are an essential part of human cells that affect how our cells age. Telomeres are the caps at the end of each strand of DNA that protect our chromosomes, like the plastic tips at the end of shoelaces. Without the coating, shoelaces become frayed until they can no longer […]

Aging Hallmarks – 2: Telomere Attrition

Telomeres are repetitive nucleotide sequences that protect the ends of chromosomes and maintain genomic stability (Fig. 5). Telomere dysfunction and genomic instability appear to be of critical importance for ageing at a cellular level. Age-related diseases and premature ageing syndromes are frequently associated with telomere shortening. Figure 5 Open in figure viewerPowerPoint Telomere attrition, telomere length and telomerase. Chromosomes have repeated […]

Aging Hallmark 1: Genomic Instability

Genomic instability Human DNA is exposed constantly to all kinds of possible mutagens. These can be exogenous such as radiation and chemicals, or endogenous such as free radicals, the by-products of energy production from the electron transport chain. Powerful cellular DNA repair machinery can fix the majority of the damage; however, some will inevitably escape repair, so mutations and damage […]