Word: ourly
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
But the reason for the difference remains only vaguely understood. Environmental factors such as smoking, stress and regular exercise all seem to influence the rate at which our cells age. Now, for the first time, researchers have found a genetic link to cellular aging - a finding that suggests new treatments...
The field of biological aging has in recent years focused on the long molecules of DNA contained in human cells called chromosomes. All chromosomes have protective caps at either end called telomeres. Each time a cell replicates itself (as it does before it dies), the telomeres shorten, like plastic tips...
TERC is likely only one of several genes that influence telomere length, says Tim Spector of Kings College London, who co-led the study. "Our next step will be to use whole genome sequencing to expand our search from 500,000 to 50 million [genetic] markers. TERC is almost certainly...
Spector and Samani say that understanding the components that determine telomere length may one day help researchers devise new treatments for age-related diseases, particularly heart disease (the study was partially funded by the British Heart Foundation). "I see in my practice 80-year-olds with healthy coronary arteries and...
The bottom line, Samani says, is that scientists remain a long way from developing an elixir of youth, however alluring that goal may be. Reporting on his research, Britain's Daily Mail announced that Samani had found the "Peter Pan gene" - a headline that Samani greeted with a weary smile...