Telomere Science: Slow-Downed Aging?

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES FOR HEALTHY AGING M A R | 2 011 | ISSU E 6 5

MEDICAL EDITOR: BETH TRAYLOR, MD , FAAFP CENEGENICS SENIOR INSTITUTE PHYSICIAN

Telomere Science: Slow-Downed Aging? It’s simple to fix a pair of broken shoelaces. But could reversing the aging process be as easy? Perhaps, when you consider several recent studies that identify the shortening of a key piece of genetic materials: telomeres. These latest developments give us better understanding about the mystery behind shortened telomeres, which could be a factor in preventing age-related disease and even some cancers, according to a July 2010 issue of the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA). Add to that the “overnight” credibility that the 1978 discovery of telomeres received 31 years later in 2009 when its discoverers— Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider and Jack W. Szostakwon—were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine for uncovering how chromosomes are “protected by leukocyte telomeres” and how shorter telomeres can lead to premature cellular aging. But what are they really? Telomeres are structures, small protein caps, at the end of chromosomes—those 46 linear structures housing your DNA. Made of four nucleic acid bases forming a series of base pairs, telomeres consist of chemical code chains. The chromosome ends are prone to damage from the inner cell environment and, therefore, need protection. That’s where telomeres come in. They’re considered to be similar to a plastic cap on the end of a shoelace that keeps the shoelace from unraveling—helping cells maintain your DNA integrity. Per research, genetic factors and environmental stressors can shorten the length of the telomere. Plus every time a cell divides— a daily occurrence—telomere length decreases. That becomes a concern as we age.

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According to the study, telomere shortening may be reversed by either copying information from one telomere to another (not so easily understood) or by a process that adds new DNA to the telomere end with an enzyme called telomerase. What we’ve learned. In their book, “The Immortality Edge,” the authors list these basic concepts:

• Age-related disease is linked to shortened telomeres. • Our lifestyle behaviors impact telomere length, from

With cell division, the average person could lose from 30 to 200 base pairs. How does that play out as the years march on? At birth, the telomere length in your blood cells may have run approximately 8,000 pairs vs. 1,500 in your later years. And there’s more to the story. The cell divisions eventually alter chromosomes, which leads to cell death or senescence (cellular aging where cells malfunction and can no longer divide). No wonder telomere length is viewed as an emerging marker of biological age. The JAMA issue mentioned earlier indicated that shorter telomere length is linked to a higher cancer risk and death from cancer (gastric, lung, ovarian).

hormonal balance, environmental toxins to obesity, cigarette smoking, drinking, stress and others. • Telomere shortening can be eased by controlling free radicals, glycation and oxidation. • Dying cells are stopped from replicating—but if the process is bypassed, the telomerase enzyme is on the rise, leading to an “immortal cell line” that becomes cancer. • Lengthening the telomeres of healthy cells can be an immune system booster—potentially preventing cancer and other diseases. How old are your telomeres? “The Immortality Edge” uses your lifestyle behaviors and health issues to assess the age of your telomeres. While it may not give you the actual length of your telomeres, taking an assessment of where you stand on certain points affecting telomeres may give you a much-needed head’s up.

Telomere science: A new dawn for healthy aging. A study conducted by distinguished microbiologist/ telomere pioneer Elizabeth Blackburn and lifestyle/diet guru Dean Ornish revealed that eating healthy, exercising properly and decreasing stress can prevent telomeres from shortening. The study participants followed Ornish's low-fat/low-stress diet-and-lifestyle plan and, as a result, increased telomerase by 29%— and their disease-preventing genes increased while some of their disease-promoting genes (such as those involved in prostate or breast cancer) shut down. Another study—published in June 2010 from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom— examined the varying telomere length in individuals and ways “changes to the chemical structure of DNA itself may control the lengthening of telomeres,” per their Department of Genetics postgraduate researcher Jonathan Williams.

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Negatively impacting telomere length:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Hypertension Diabetes Coronary artery disease High cholesterol (LDL over 150) Sleep apnea Short sleep duration (5 hours or less) Being 10 pounds, 30 pounds or more overweight Waist measurement >36 inches (men); >32 inches (women) Cognitive decline Exercising less than 3x per week Age-related vision issues, macular degeneration Skipping breakfast Drinking fruit juices more than 3x per week Eating fried foods more than 2x per week Frequently eating salty nuts Eating processed/smoked meat Stressful life

Positively impacting telomere length:

• Taking supplements daily • Consuming optimal amount of protein daily

• Eating 5 servings of veggies daily • Flexibility (to touch toes, keeping knees straight)

• Exercising more than 6x weekly • Resistance training = 25% of your fitness program They even list being content/happy, having close friends to talk with, owning a pet, meditating and having a hobby.

Telomere lengthening: a potential with TA-65®. Cenegenics® Medical Institute recently teamed up with T.A. Sciences to use their telomerase activation technology—a nutraceutical called TA-65®—as an additional component to our renowned proactive approach to optimized health. “The more cell duplication, the younger your cells. T.A. Sciences’ oral supplement,TA-65®, appears to slow down the telomere shortening process,” Dr. Robert D. Willix, Jr. said. Willix is chief medical officer of Cenegenics® Medical Institute as well as chief medical officer and CEO of Cenegenics Boca Raton. “Preliminary data also suggests it may lengthen some of the telomeres, which could mean your previously aging cells are now younger than a year ago. That is of special interest to Cenegenics and its proactive medical approach — which is why we’re thrilled to now offer TA-65® to our age-management patients.”

The TA-65® story. Since 2002, Noel Thomas Patton, founder of T.A. Sciences, has held exclusive worldwide rights to all Geron’s telomerase activation technology. Geron (GERN) is a California biotech company. Per T.A. Sciences: The nutraceutical circulates in the blood and activates the telomerase enzyme—causing DNA to be added to the telomeres at the end of chromosomes resulting in cell rejuvenation that can help prevent the aging effects linked to shortened telomeres, such as a weakened immune system. TA-65® has no known side effects. It is a specific active ingredient, specially extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Astragalus root. T.A. Sciences says . . .

• TA-65®’s ability to induce telomerase activity has resulted in significant, recorded benefits in preliminary studies: immune system rejuvenation, improved cognitive function as well as lowered blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol and homocysteine levels. • TA-65® is a single, purified molecule—which is why taking commonly available Astragalus root extract will not produce the same medical outcomes.

The right nutrition . . . right exercise . . . right lifestyle modifications . . . and now telomere science. Cenegenics stands on the forefront of healthy aging to help you live well longer.