Can we stop aging with telomerase?
Counteracting the telomere shrinking process is the enzyme, telomerase, that uniquely holds the key to delaying or even reversing the cellular aging process. However, the activity of the telomerase enzyme is insufficient to completely restore the lost telomeric DNA repeats, nor to stop cellular aging.
What is telomerase therapy?
Abstract. Telomere maintenance via telomerase reactivation is a nearly universal hallmark of cancer cells which enables replicative immortality. In contrast, telomerase activity is silenced in most adult somatic cells. Thus, telomerase represents an attractive target for highly selective cancer therapeutics.
What supplements help lengthen telomeres?
Candidates include vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and TA-65, a product that purportedly contains extracts of astragalus membranaceus, a plant-based compound that demonstrates immunomodulatory, anti-oxidative stress, and anti-aging effects, the latter of which are associated with longer telomeres.
Does fasting lengthen telomeres?
During fasting the percentage of stem cells with long telomeres increases. However, while fasting increases telomere length, the number of mitosis and stem cells remains constant [7]. Other factors than cell division may modulate telomere length, for instance exonucleases or oxygen levels [5].
Is there a drug that can inhibit telomerase?
Small molecules such as AZT (azidothymidine, a non-specific reverse transcriptase inhibitor) [16], chemicals such as retinoids [17], tamoxifen [18], or EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) [19], and molecules which interfere with telomere structure (i.e., G-quadruplex stabilizers) [20, 21] have been shown to be effective in …
Is curcumin anti-aging?
Curcumin — the main active compound in turmeric — has been shown to possess powerful anti-aging properties, which are attributed to its potent antioxidant potential. Cellular senescence occurs when cells stop dividing.