Do Healthy Habits Protect Against Stress?

Cellular aging is thought to be accelerated by major life stressors. Researchers studied the impact of stressors in middle-aged women over a one year period. They found that a significant amount of change in telomere length could be predicted by life stressors (such as divorce, job loss, or caring for an elderly parent). However, when subjects…

Worry May Speed Aging

An observational study of more than 5,000 women in the Nurses Health Study strongly suggests that chronic panic, fears, and other anxiety disorders may contribute to the premature shortening of telomeres. The difference between those with higher stress scores was comparable to women 6 years older than those with lower stress scores. Controlling our stresses…

Keep Moving to Keep Your Cells Younger!

Ever wanted to run from old age? New research in both mice and men demonstrates literally running regularly helps prevent cells from getting older! German investigators have found that regular physical activity helps you maintain longer telomeres--DNA sequences at the end of chromosomes that typically get shorter with age. These longer telomeres prolong the life…