Dr. Jesse Santiano reviews Mendelian randomization and intervention studies to show that lifestyle factors—such as nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and stress reduction—slow telomere attrition safely, contrasting with genetic or pharmacologic telomerase activation that can elevate cancer risk.
Key points
- Mendelian randomization links inherited longer telomeres to increased cancer risk.
- Lifestyle interventions (diet, exercise, sleep, stress relief) slow telomere attrition without oncogenic activation.
- Pharmacologic and gene therapy approaches (TA-65, danazol, AAV-TERT) show telomere lengthening but carry safety and efficacy limitations.
Why it matters: This review shifts anti-aging focus towards supporting natural telomere maintenance through lifestyle rather than risky genetic or pharmacologic lengthening strategies, highlighting safer disease prevention pathways.
Q&A
- What are telomeres?
- How does telomerase regulation prevent cancer?
- Can lifestyle changes lengthen telomeres?
- Why might longer telomeres raise cancer risk?
