Let’s start by level-setting on a few genetic concepts that will help you understand how certain lifestyle choices and habits can have an impact on aging. You may have heard DNA referred to as the building block of life, as it is found in small packages called chromosomes in nearly every cell of all living… Read More
Cellular senescence is a primary driver of the aging process, and has been described as the “causal nexus,” which links cellular damage with the larger, anatomical effects of aging1. Senescent cells do not directly cause aging, but instead have a cumulative effect leading to larger, more visible consequences of tissue breakdown that are the signs and… Read More
When we are born, generally our telomeres are at their longest. With every cell division throughout the course of our life, our telomeres lose a bit of their DNA. In addition to the normal replicative processes of the cell, telomeres are also negatively impacted by oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a cellular condition that describes… Read More
Previously in this blog, I summarized some of the clinical findings on the association between chronic stress and telomere length as well as the research into the impact of stress mitigation techniques. However a growing body of literature is beginning to look at how our telomere length is impacted by things that happen before we… Read More
So you’re stressed. You are not alone – the American Psychological Association’s 2015 Stress in America Survey reports that 78% of American adults reported having experienced at least one symptom of stress last year. As we reviewed in my last blog post, there is a considerable body of research that associates chronic stress exposure with… Read More
It’s that time of the year when we look back over the past 12 months and make New Year’s resolutions about self- improvement and healthy living. Its review of noteworthy scientific studies published in 2016 finds the role of TELOMERES, the dynamic, protective caps at the ends our DNA strands that tend to shorten and fray with age, at the top of the list.
To those who are deciding whether to measure their own telomere length as a worthwhile way to help set a baseline for improving their lifestyle in the New Year, TeloYears offers the following round-up of the latest clinical studies published by highly renowned and trusted organizations who already know that it is. These publications from credible institutions not only add to the scientific basis for measuring telomere length, but also provide interesting evidence on the interplay between telomere length and one’s genetics, lifestyle, environment, stress and wellness.… Read More
Being stressed out seems to have become the normal condition of our modern lives. Work, school, parenting, caregiving, traffic, finances, the 24-hour news cycle, loneliness, loss of community, family pressures, health concerns—the list is long. In fact according to the National Institute of Mental Health, Americans are one of the most anxious nations in the… Read More
Need a quick graphical overview of the TeloYears test? Our handy new infographic explains what telomeres are and how telomere length is associated with cellular aging. Find out what causes telomeres to shorten and what lifestyle improvements have been shown to be positively associated with telomere length. Feel free to download it or share it with… Read More
Please check out this new interview with my colleague Dr. John Carlquist, a genetics researcher from the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute here in Salt Lake City, Utah. He does a great job describing what telomeres are and how their length may associate with age related disease, the value of knowing one’s telomere length and… Read More
My name is Cal Harley, PhD and I am the Chief Scientist at Telomere Diagnostics, the company that offers TeloYears. As a clinical researcher and scientist, I have been actively involved in telomere biology research for the past 30+ years and am very excited that we are now able to offer TeloYears, a simple… Read More
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