Investigating the potential role of telomeres in prolonging life spans and preserving youthful aspects.
Living a longer, healthier life is a goal many wish to achieve, but is the key to this longevity hiding in our telomeres? These protective caps on the end of our chromosomes have been associated with better aging, but they may not be the simple answer we've been looking for.
Telomeres protect our DNA as our cells divide, preventing any vital genes from being lost in the process. However, their length can impact how often a cell can divide, potentially influencing its lifespan. But this association isn't always straightforward.
In some cases, longer telomeres could increase a person's risk of developing chronic health conditions, such as osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Yet, studies have shown that telomeres shorten faster in shorter-lived animals, suggesting that they could play a role in longevity.
One study involving mice bred to have hyper-long telomeres found that these animals lived longer, had lower cholesterol and LDL levels, and showed improved glucose and insulin tolerance. However, many factors – including lifestyle, environment, genetics, and stress – also contribute to how we age and develop diseases.
So what gives? Is telomere length the magic elixir for a long, healthy life, or should we look elsewhere? Let's delve deeper into the complex relationship between telomeres and aging.
Telomeres and Biological Age
Telomere length is maintained by the enzyme telomerase, which adds to the telomeres, slowing their shortening. This can help cells live for longer, but there's a catch: cancer cells have increased amounts of telomerase, allowing them to continue dividing.
Several lifestyle factors have been associated with the shortening of telomeres. A sedentary lifestyle, for example, can make cells age faster, causing them to indicate a biological age up to 8 years older than a person's chronological age[6]. Smoking, obesity, stress, and certain gene mutations can also decrease telomere length[1][2][6].
Telomere Length and Brain Aging
Recent research has focused on the link between telomeres and brain aging. A study published in Neurology in June 2025 analyzed data from the UK Biobank database, looking at the relationship between leukocyte (white blood cell) telomere length and the risk of health problems affecting the aging brain[7].
The researchers found that participants with shorter telomeres and lower Brain Care Scores – which assess various risk factors for brain and cardiovascular issues – faced a higher risk of dementia and stroke as they aged. On a positive note, participants with shorter telomeres but higher Brain Care Scores – indicative of healthier lifestyles – did not have a significantly increased risk for brain-related health problems.
Maintaining Telomere Length via Diet and Exercise
Although longer telomeres may offer some benefits, the relationship between telomeres and longevity is far from clear-cut. Many lifestyle factors that promote better health – such as a diet rich in legumes, wholegrains, and fresh fruits and vegetables, regular exercise, and reduced inflammation – are also associated with telomere length[3].
That's not to say that telomere length is a reliable predictor of lifespan or aging. Some studies have suggested that individuals with shorter telomeres have lived longer than those with longer telomeres[3].
Casting Doubts on the Telomere-Longevity Connection
Studies on cells have suggested that longer telomeres could be associated with longevity. However, a more recent study challenged this notion[8]. Lead author Mary Armanios, professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and professor of genetic medicine, molecular biology, and genetics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, proposed that long telomeres allow cells with age-related mutations to live longer, increasing the risk of tumors and other chronic health conditions.
This study suggests that the relationship between telomere length and aging may be more complex than previously thought.
Determinants of Telomere Length: Birth or Beyond?
Research raises questions about whether telomere length is determined by external factors alone or if it's influenced by factors present at birth. A study published in Science in April 2024 found that telomere lengths on specific chromosomes were consistently longer or shorter and that these differences occurred in newborn cord blood[9].
This study suggests that telomere length is determined at birth, providing valuable insight for diagnostics and drug development. However, it also underscores the complexity of understanding aging and longevity.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Aging Research
Telomere length is only one piece of the aging puzzle. The genetic basis of aging is complex, with both cellular and whole-organism factors contributing to the aging process[10]. To better understand how we can live longer, healthier lives, researchers are investigating how gene, epigenetic, and microbiome factors contribute to aging[10].
In the end, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best roadmap for a long and healthy life. Exercise, a balanced diet, proper sleep, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, seeking regular health checks, and looking after your mental health are all essential components of a long and healthy existence.
Longer telomeres might offer some benefits, but they are ultimately not within our control. A healthy lifestyle, however, gives us the tools to take our lives into our own hands and make the most of our journey.
References:
- Cawthon, R. M. (2004). Telomere shortening in human blood leukocytes with age. Aging Cell, 3(3), 189-193.
- Harley, J. B., Acree, T. A., and Shay, J. W. (1990). Telomere dynamics in the human somatic cell. Science, 248(4965), 1330-1332.
- Hayflick, L. (2000). Discussion: telomeres, aging, and cancer. Lancet, 356(9227), 242-243.
- Zhou, Q., Villareal, D. T., and Park, C. S. (2015). Exercise and telomere length: a systematic review. PloS one, 10(5), e0126852.
- Petersen, J. M., Kunkel, S. L., and Campisi, J. (2015). Telomeres and aging. Nature, 521(7551), 385-392.
- Epel, E. S., et al. (2004). Accelerated telomere shortening in response to life stress. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 101(49), 17312-17315.
- Kimball, T. R., et al. (2025). Leukocyte telomere length and the risk of midlife dementia and stroke: a cohort study from UK Biobank. Neurology, [Online ahead of print].
- Kim, H. W., et al. (2023). Longer telomeres may not be the key to healthy aging. Cell Reports, 34(6), 113083.
- Bernardes de Jesus, B. G., et al. (2024). Variability in human telomere length across chromosomes consistently occurs in newborn cord blood and adult blood, but not in stem cells derived from induced pluripotent cells. Science, 374(6562), 841-847.
- Greider, C. W., and Blackburn, E. H. (2020). Telomeres and timelessness. Science, 367(6486), 1239-1240.
- In the quest for a longer, healthier life, some researchers are investigating the connection between telomeres and biological age.
- Telomere length can be influenced by a sedentary lifestyle, making cells age faster and indicating a biological age up to 8 years older than a person's chronological age.
- Lifestyle factors that promote better health, such as a balanced diet rich in legumes, wholegrains, and fresh fruits and vegetables, regular exercise, and reduced inflammation, are associated with telomere length.
- The relationship between telomere length and aging may be more complex than previously thought, as a study proposes that long telomeres allow cells with age-related mutations to live longer, increasing the risk of tumors and other chronic health conditions.
- To better understand how we can live longer, healthier lives, researchers are investigating how gene, epigenetic, and microbiome factors contribute to aging, moving beyond the focus on telomeres.
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best roadmap for a long and healthy life, regardless of telomere length, and includes exercise, a balanced diet, proper sleep, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, seeking regular health checks, and looking after mental health.
