From the Guidelines
Telomere length is a biomarker of cellular aging and overall health, with shorter telomeres associated with increased disease risk and mortality, as reported in a 13-year prospective study in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging 1. Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that naturally shorten with each cell division, eventually leading to cellular senescence when they become critically short. Some key points to consider when interpreting telomere length include:
- Shorter telomeres are associated with aging, increased disease risk, and mortality, while longer telomeres generally indicate better cellular health and potentially longer lifespan 1.
- Telomere length can be influenced by various factors including genetics, lifestyle choices (diet, exercise, stress management), and environmental exposures, with significant amounts of telomere shortening explained by decreased telomerase activity in the cells that express this enzyme 1.
- Measuring telomere length may help assess biological age versus chronological age and potentially identify individuals at higher risk for age-related diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers, as several reports indicate that short telomeres may be associated with central obesity, lifetime accumulation of stress, and increased risk of cardiovascular events 1. However, it is essential to note that telomere length is just one biomarker of aging and health, and should be interpreted alongside other health indicators rather than in isolation, as the relationship between telomere length and health outcomes is complex and still being researched, with individual variations making precise predictions difficult 1.
From the Research
Telomere Length as a Marker of Biological Age
- Telomere length (TL) is recognized as a biomarker of aging, with telomere shortening being a hallmark of both cellular senescence and organismal aging 2.
- TL can provide a rough estimate of aging rate, but it is not a strong predictor of age-related pathologies and mortality on its own 2.
- Other indicators, such as immune parameters and indices of epigenetic age, may be stronger predictors of health status and risk of chronic disease 2.
Association with Age-Related Diseases
- Shorter telomeres have been associated with acute and chronic diseases, stress, addictions, and intoxications 3.
- Telomere shortening has also been proposed as a marker of severity in individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 3.
- Accelerated telomere loss has been linked to many chronic diseases of aging, including premature aging or cellular senescence 4.
Influence of Lifestyle and Micronutrients
- Healthy lifestyle habits can increase telomere length and balance various cellular functions, preventing diseases 3.
- Micronutrients, such as vitamin D, folate, and vitamin B12, may be involved in telomere biology and cellular aging 5, 6.
- Vitamin D, in particular, may play a role in telomere biology and genomic stability, with higher concentrations associated with longer telomeres 6.