Can This New Test Predict How Long Youll Live?

By Lisa Collier Cool Dec 28, 2012 35 Recommend

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by Lisa Collier Cool

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If youve ever wanted to know how fast your body is aging, the answer could be closer than you think. In fact, your spit could hold some very important clues to

both your health and life expectancy. A new saliva-based test due out in early 2013 may shed some light on cellular wear and tear by measuring the length of telomeres, caps of DNA at the end of chromosomes. A team of researchers from Kaiser Permanente and the University of California in San Francisco found a significant link between mortality, health and the length of telomeres. The research was presented at the American Society of Human Genetics 2012 meeting in San Francisco.

What are telomeres?

Telomeres are the protective bundles of genes inside the cells, a combination of protein and DNA found at the ends of the 46 chromosomes in human cells. Often compared to the plastic tips on the end of shoelaces, they stop chromosome ends from fraying, suppressing tumors in the process. Telomeres prevent the deterioration of chromosomes. Ragged telomeres lead to damage to the chromosomes and DNA. And certain diseases that cause cells to divide rapidly shorten telomeres Telomeres also shorten naturally as a process of cell division. When telomeres become too short, however, cells can no longer multiply. 10 Simple Ways to Reduce Stress

What did the study show?

Researchers at Kaiser Permanent and the University of California in San Francisco measured the telomere length of more than 100,000 study participants over a three-year period. The study showed that the 10 percent of people who had the shortest telomeres increased their risk of mortality by 23 percent compared to those with longer telomeres, even after a variety of lifestyle factors were taken into account. The study collected saliva samples from participants, linking them with health data from their electronic records. Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption

were linked to shorter telomeres. Surprisingly, however, people with a high BMI had longer telomeres, contradicting earlier, smaller studies.

What have other studies shown?

Previous research at the University of Denmark following close to 20,000 patients showed that the risk of heart attack was increased by 50 percent for those with short telomeres. Other studies have reported: Among initially cancer-free patients, those with the shortest telomeres had triple the risk of developing the disease over the next decade, compared to patients with the longest telomere. A retrospective study (using blood samples collected from elderly people in the 1980s) reported that those with the shortest telomeres had nearly double the death rate during the study period as those with longer ones. In a study of more than 5,000 patients with acute coronary syndrome, those with short telomere had significantly higher rates of heart attack or death from cardiovascular causes, even when all known risk factors were taken into account. Short telomeres have not been proven to cause any diseases, but they have been associated with some cancers, as well as diabetes, depression, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Reductions in telomere length are thought to be a biomarker of accelerated aging. 11 Ways to Save on Healthcare

What factors might shorten telomeres?

Its not entirely clear whether any activities directly cause shortened telomeres, but smoking and heavy drinking both appear to be linked, while higher education levels and moderate exercise were associated with longer telomeres. Women had longer telomeres than men, except as young adults. Telomeres shorten with age. We found that children who experience multiple forms of violence had the

fastest erosion of their telomeres, compared with children who experienced just one type of violence or did not experience violence at all, Duke researcher Idan Shalev, the lead author of a study analyzing DNA samples from 5-year-old children, told Smithsonian Magazine. Nurses suffering from phobias had shorter telomeres than those who did not, according to a study looking at over 5,000 nurses at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, suggesting that fear, anxiety and stress may accelerate aging.

How do I get my own telomere length tested?

A new test by biotechnology company Telome Health, the first to use saliva, measures telomere length in the white blood cells. It will be available to doctors in early 2013, and may be available as a home test as well. The test is expected to cost about $200. Blood tests measuring telomeres are already available.

What can I do to lengthen my telomeres?

Eating fish has been specifically linked to telomere length during a five-year study looking at aging patients with coronary heart disease, possibly due to the abundance of healthy omega-3 fatty acids boosting telomerase, a telomerefriendly enzyme. Omega-3 fatty acids are most abundant in oily cold-water fish, including salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies and sardines. Walnuts, beans and olive oils are some other sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Reducing job stress is also an important step to take, as work-related exhaustion was shown to decrease the length of leucocyte telomeres in a study looking at close to 3000 working-age men and women in Finland. Common sense strategies for maintaining health never lose their relevance. Avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol are good ways to preserve telomere length as well as longevity. Moderate exercise has consistently shown to be effective.

Does the telomere test predict how long youll live?

Not exactly. However, having short telomeres could be a red flag suggesting that your body is aging faster than it should. If so, you and your healthcare provider could take that information into account in monitoring your health.