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Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992) · Feb 2021
Telomere length: biological marker of cellular vitality, aging, and health-disease process.
- Marcus Zulian Teixeira.
- Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina - Universidade de São Paulo (SP), Brazil.
- Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2021 Feb 1; 67 (2): 173-177.
AbstractThe aging process occurs due to the decline of vital physiological functions and adaptability of the body, being influenced by genetics and lifestyle. With advances in genetics, biological aging can be calculated by telomere length. Telomeres are regions at the ends of chromosomes that play a role in the maintenance and integrity of DNA. With biological aging, telomere shortening occurs, causing cellular senescence. Several studies show that shorter telomeres are associated with acute and chronic diseases, stress, addictions, and intoxications. Even in the current COVID-19 pandemic, telomere shortening is proposed as a marker of severity in individuals infected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). On the other hand, healthy lifestyle habits increase telomere length and balance of various cellular functions, preventing diseases.
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