Telomere Length

Telomeres are protective caps located at the ends of chromosomes, which are structures that hold our DNA. Each time a cell divides, these telomeres shorten. When they become too short, the cell can no longer divide and may become inactive or die. This process is linked to aging and the development of age-related diseases. Think of telomeres as the plastic tips on shoelaces that prevent fraying; without them, our genetic material can deteriorate, impacting our health and longevity. Maintaining telomere length is an area of research for understanding aging and potential treatments for diseases.