Aging, as much as people would want to avoid, is something that is already embedded on the human DNA specifically on the telomeres and aging is often associated with it. As the years pass, people grow to be older and to be more mature, and in the process their bodies, from the physical well being to the very core and chromosomes, tend to mature as well. There are just some things inevitable, such as human life that could be delayed but most likely, not stopped.
How Are Telomeres And Aging Related?
The human DNA strand is composed of chromosomes and at both its ends, there are telomere, and aging is often linked to that part of the DNA that is previously mentioned. One of the functions of the telomeres is to protect the chromosomes and to separate them from other DNA. Through time, the telomeres become shorter as some parts of the
DNA makeup are damaged in the replication process. After the cell has replicated for around 50 times, the telomeres become too short to be able to do further replication. The limit is called the Hayflick limit, which confines the telomeres and aging starts to be more apparent.
On the moment of birth, the average length of human telomeres are around 10, 000 base pairs long, after a century the telomeres decrease to as low as 5,000 base pairs. Telomeres and aging are associated with each other because of various reasons, and one of them is that when people tend to have shorter telomeres; they also undeniably develop the signs of aging. Shorter telomeres also makes people more vulnerable to traumas and infection, may it be physical, emotional, psychological or environmental.
Researchers have discovered that cancer cells produce an enzyme called the telomerase which prevents the shortening of the telomeres. When cancer cells produce more and more telomerase, they will be able to replicate without dying, thus increasing the cancer cells in the body in an alarming and severe way. On a positive light, telomerase is also used to increase the formation of sperm and egg cells to pass on the long telomeres to the offspring.
TA 65 Affects Telomeres And Aging
In New York, a company called T.A. Sciences claims to manufacture a telomerase supplement that is formulated to stop the shortening of telomeres and aging could also be slowed down. The product is called TA-65 which is composed of extracts from Chinese herb astragalus, an ancient medicine according to the company. The TA-65 also sells for a whooping price that not everyone can afford. Another product that has been developed in fighting aging through the telomerase is the Elite Telomere Cell Cream. This anti aging cream is described as a highly advanced formula to deal with the skin problems brought on by aging. The Elite Telomere Cell Cream also claims to aid the body in repairing the DNA and the maintenance of telomere. Other factors have also been discovered to affect the skin visibly. Some of these factors that damage the DNA of the skin cells are the lack of moisture in the skin, toxins and stress.
For more information take a look at this YouTube video that discusses telomeres and aging.