As reported in the online resource PLoS ONE, a cross-sectional
analysis of the now-classic Nurses’ Health Study done by Qi Sun,
M.D of the Harvard School of Public Health and colleagues found
that women who led healthy lifestyles had longer telomeres than
those who didn’t. Telomeres are buffers on the ends of
chromosomes that help keep the chromosomes from deteriorating
during cell division. If telomeres become too short, cellular
senescence, or old age, can result. Previous research has shown
that artificial lengthening of telomeres in laboratory mice and
worms has successfully reversed signs of aging. The studies have
never been replicated in humans, but Dr Sun’s work suggests that
we don’t need to wait for a science fiction style medical
miracle to keep our telomeres from shortening over time.
Instead, all we have to do is buy into the healthy practices we
all know by now are good for us. As Dr. Sun and his colleagues
wrote in their conclusion: “Adherence to a healthy lifestyle,
defined by major modifiable