Telomeres

Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn, the Noble prize-winning scientist, is passionate about the findings of the telomere. Explains that deep within the genetic heart of all our cells are telomeres, or repeating segments of noncoding DNA that live at the ends of the chromosomes.

Telomeres are tiny structures that form caps at the ends of the chromosomes and keep the genetic material from unravelling. Telomeres shorten with each cell division; they help determine how fast our cell ages. When they become too short, the cell stops dividing altogether.

Researchers are finding that your mental patterns could harm your telomeres — essential parts of the cell’s DNA — and affect your life and health.

The more chronic stress, the shorter the telomere. The shortening and unravelling of the cell could lead to early disease and death. Life events and how we respond to stress are how we maintain our telomeres over a lifetime.

In extensive studies, they found that mothers with challenging conditions in kids had the shortest telomeres. Yet, in the same group, some did not have short telomeres and maintained their length over time.

When studied closely, they were the most resilient to stress—viewing circumstances as not stressful and a threat day in and out, instead viewing them as challenges.

So here, we control how we age down to our cells.

Scientists contributed to almost 10,000 papers that chronic stress is bad for telomeres. When under stress, we release cortisol, which shortens our life quality and span.

We looked at other external factors, such as early childhood emotional neglect, loneliness, sadness, and abuse; these tend to shorten telomeres.

On the other hand, factors that contributed to maintaining your telomeres:

Long-term relationships
Good friendships
Healthy living conditions
Life style

Telomeres do not simply carry out the commands issued by your genetic code. Your telomeres are listening to you. The foods you eat, your response to challenges, the amount of exercise you get, and many other factors appear to influence your telomeres. They can prevent premature aging at the cellular level. One of the keys to enjoying good health is simply doing your part to foster healthy cell renewal.

This gives us some control over how we allow the external world to affect us through our choice of thoughts and attitudes. The more positive choices we make, the better our lives are.

From the research and studies by:
Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn noble prize-winning scientist
and Dr. Elissa Epel health psychologist.