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Telomeres, Aging and Exercise: Guilty by Association?

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posted on 2019-08-27, 15:12 authored by W Chilton, B O’Brien, F Charchar
Telomeres are repetitive tandem DNA sequences that cap chromosomal ends protecting genomic DNA from enzymatic degradation. Telomeres progressively shorten with cellular replication and are therefore assumed to correlate with biological and chronological age. An expanding body of evidence suggests (i) a predictable inverse association between telomere length, aging and age-related diseases and (ii) a positive association between physical activity and telomere length. Both hypotheses have garnered tremendous research attention and broad consensus; however, the evidence for each proposition is inconsistent and equivocal at best. Telomere length does not meet the basic criteria for an aging biomarker and at least 50% of key studies fail to find associations with physical activity. In this review, we address the evidence in support and refutation of the putative associations between telomere length, aging and physical activity. We finish with a brief review of plausible mechanisms and potential future research directions.

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Citation

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017, 18 (12), pp. 2573-2573

Author affiliation

/Organisation/COLLEGE OF LIFE SCIENCES/School of Medicine/Department of Cardiovascular Sciences

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

Published in

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Publisher

MDPI

eissn

1422-0067

Acceptance date

2017-11-25

Copyright date

2017

Available date

2019-08-27

Language

en

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