Research Perspective Volume 8, Issue 1 pp 12—15
Nutrition and lifestyle in healthy aging: the telomerase challenge
- 1 Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- 2 Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Aging and Metabolic Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
Received: October 5, 2015 Accepted: January 20, 2016 Published: January 30, 2016
https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.100886How to Cite
Abstract
Nutrition and lifestyle, known to modulate aging process and age-related diseases, might also affect telomerase activity. Short and dysfunctional telomeres rather than average telomere length are associated with longevity in animal models, and their rescue by telomerase maybe sufficient to restore cell and organismal viability. Improving telomerase activation in stem cells and potentially in other cells by diet and lifestyle interventions may represent an intriguing way to promote health-span in humans.