Genetics

How shortened telomeres heighten risk of serious lung disease

In 2017, Cindy Sutherland caught a nasty cold she couldn't shake. After coughing nonstop for weeks, she went to urgent care and got a chest X-ray. When the doctor shared the results with her, he asked, "Have you ever heard ...

Genetics

Genetic evidence shows that smoking can cause us to age faster

A study of nearly 500,000 people has shown that smoking shortens the end fragments of chromosomes in the white blood cells of our immune systems. The length of these end fragments, called telomeres, is an indicator of how ...

Alzheimer's disease & dementia

Shorter telomeres point to increased Alzheimer's risk

Short telomeres in midlife are associated with a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, UConn School of Medicine researchers report in the May 30 issue of Aging Cell.

Medical research

A way of life that keeps cells young in one region of Costa Rica

In Nicoya, Costa Rica, where average incomes are among the nation's lowest, the average life span is 85—among the world's highest. By comparison, a person in the United States can reasonably expect to live to just 77, according ...

Medical research

What lobsters can teach us about immortality

No one likes the thought of getting old, but it seems to be an inevitable part of life. Most species grow, develop and repair damage to their bodies until a certain point in adulthood. After this, the body becomes less capable ...

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