HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT TELOMERES AND LONGEVITY? Can mindfulness practices (such as meditation) slow the rate of loss of these markers of cellular aging? Let’s look at the relationship between mindfulness and telomere integrity.
By understanding potentially changeable determinants of cellular aging, we may hack our way to improving our longevity (and perhaps more importantly, our healthspan).
Telomeres may provide a platform for exploring longevity and healthspan. Telomeres are protective caps that form the ends of our chromosomes. Telomere length allows some insight into cell (and possibly human) longevity. In addition, there are links between telomere length, depression, and chronic stress.
Can we modulate cellular aging via psychological/cognitive maneuvers?
Telomere and longevity – basics
What are telomeres? Julie Segre, Ph.D. of the US National Institutes of Health, provides some insights:
Chromosomes are long pieces of DNA. Without some protection on the ends of these structures, the DNA would become more ragged or even have pieces break off.
Enter telomeres, specialized bits of DNA that perch on the chromosome’s end and protect the chromosome from becoming damaged. Each time a cell divides, the telomeres divide too (and can become shorter). In the photo above, the bright white spots are the telomeres.
The telomere is a clock that the cell counts to know its age; telomeres limit how many times a cell can divide before it loses essential DNA on its chromosomes.
You will not be surprised when I tell you that one trick cancer cells use is keeping their telomeres long, leading to the cell continuously dividing.
If you prefer video explanations, please consider this piece from the National Human Genome Research Institute: TelomereTelomere. Along the chromosomes, which are long pieces of DNA…when you look at them as a picture, they look like…www.genome.gov.
Telomere length — Health implications
Chronological age is, naturally, a potent predictor of illness and death. There is a considerable amount of variability amongst us. It would be nice to have some morbidity and mortality indicators in this context.
Please go here to learn more: https://medium.com/beingwell/a-ridiculously-simple-way-to-lengthen-your-life-in-under-10-minutes-e5fac504dd3d?sk=abf981073b22b68ffdda54f49a33639a.
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