Telomere is a region of repetitive DNA at the end of a chromosome, which protects the end of the chromosome from deterioration. Telomeres are crucial to the life of the cell. They keep the ends of the various chromosomes in the cell from accidentally becoming attached to each other.

In human blood cells, the length of telomeres ranges from 8,000 base pairs at birth to 3,000 base pairs as people age and as low as 1,500 in elderly people. Each time a cell divides, an average person loses 30 to 200 base pairs from the ends of that cell\’s telomeres. Telomeres function by preventing chromosomes from losing base pair sequences at their ends. They also stop chromosomes from fusing to each other.

Telomeres, like protective caps at the end of our shoelaces, function to protect our genome integrity and preserve cell function. As we age our telomeres shorten. Scientific studies have shown that people with long telomeres age healthier and live longer. Telomere length (TL) have been shown to be predictive of longevity and determines individual\’s \”biological age\”. Not all individuals age at the same speed even though they may have the same chronological age.

However, telomeres become progressively shorter each time the cell divides. When they get too short, cells reach replicative senescence and can no longer divide. As a consequence, the cell dies. Thus, the processes of cell aging and cell death are regulated in part by telomeres. The result can be the various conditions associated with old age.

Studies have found shortened telomeres in many cancers, including pancreatic, bone, prostate, bladder, lung, kidney, and head and neck.

The phenomenon of cellular aging was first noted by Professor Lenhard Hayflick in 1961. He discovered that cells cannot divide beyond a specific number of times. This is called the Hayflick Limit. Because DNA is unzipped and copied from an original, complimentary strand, any daughter cell\’s telomeres can\’t be longer than its mother\’s and will actually be shortened each division.

Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider, and Jack Szostak were awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase.

The only way to lengthen telomeres is through the activation of an enzyme called telomerase. Telomerase is an enzyme made of protein and RNA subunits that elongates chromosomes by adding TTAGGG sequences to the end of existing chromosomes. Every cell in your body has the genetic code to make telomerase, but only certain cells need to produce this enzyme.

Telomerase Activation works on targeted cells in your body and can improve not only cell longevity but quality of life. If telomerase is activated in a cell, the cell will continue to grow and divide. This \”immortal cell\” theory is important for aging. Currently the only way to activate telomerase is to take TA-65 supplement. Telomerase-Activating molecule of TA-65 is highly purified through a proprietary extraction process from the root of Chinese plant Astragalus.

People with longer telomeres still experience telomere shortening as they age. How many years might be added to our lifespan by completely stopping telomere shortening? Researchers believe up to 30 years.

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Ivan Joksimovic is a anti-aging expert with a passion for motivating and inspiring others.