Telomere Length Linked to Heart Health

Having longer telomeres may mean a healthier heart, according to new study

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have just published the results of a long-term and large-scale study that has found yet another reason to take care of telomeres: the shorter their length, the worse it may be for the heart.

The 19-year study analyzed the DNA of around 20 thousand Danish people and measured their telomere length, a measurement of cellular aging. The researchers were looking for a link between shorter telomeres and increased risk for heart attack or early death. They reported that individuals with the shortest telomere length had a 50 percent increase in risk for heart attack, and a 25 percent increase in risk for premature death. The results also showed that one in four Danes have shortened telomeres.

The science behind telomeres and the importance of preserving their length is becoming increasingly known. Experts describe telomeres as “chains of chemical code” within human DNA. As time passes, telomeres naturally shorten with each cell cycle—when cells divide, which is thought to happen normally about 50 to 70 times during a cell’s lifespan. Eventually, telomeres shorten to the point that cells in the body die, or become senescent. This cellular aging is what causes the body to age as well—a notion that is prompting researchers to focus on telomere preservation.Unhealthy lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity, and poor diet choices are associated with premature telomere shortening likely because they each contribute to greater oxidative stress.

“That smoking and obesity increases the risk of heart disease has been known for awhile. We have now shown, as has been speculated, that the increased risk [of heart disease]is directly related to the shortening of the protective telomeres – so you can say that smoking and obesity ages the body on a cellular level, just as surely as the passing of time,” said Clinical Professor of Genetic Epidemiology Børge Nordestgaard, one of the authors of the study.

The study authors suggest that someday in the future physicians could potentially perform blood tests to analyze patients’ cellular health. This could help gauge telomere length and indicate which patients appear to have an increased risk.

“Future studies will have to reveal the actual molecular mechanism by which the short telomere length causes heart attacks,” Nordestgaard said.

In the mean time, adopting healthy lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, engaging in regular exercise, eating a nutritious diet, and proper supplementation can help to maintain healthy telomeres and a healthy heart.

Reference: Weischer M, Bojesen SE, Cawthon RM, Freiberg JJ, Tybjaerg-Hansen A, Nordestgaard BG. Short Telomere Length, Myocardial Infarction, Ischemic Heart Disease, and Early Death. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2011. doi: 10.1161/​ATVBAHA.111.237271

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