In 2009 the Nobel Prize for Medicine was shared between 3 Americans (Jack Szostak of Harvard Medical School, Carol Greider of Johns Hopkins, and Elizabeth Blackburn of UCSF) for the discovery of the enzyme telomerase.  Telomerase lengthens the ends of the chromosomes, known as telomeres, whose purpose is to protect the genetic information stored in the chromosomes.  Without telomeres, chromosome ends could fuse together and degrade the cell's genetic blueprint.  Telomerase can eliminate some of the contraction of the chromosomes so they can maintain their length.

2009 Nobel Price Winners for Telomerase Research

Every time the cell divides the telomere caps get shortened. Since the telomeres do not contain any important information, the most important parts of the DNA are protected. However, when the telomeres become too short, the cells can no longer divide and our body stops making those cells. Over time, this leads to aging and death. Cells in our body replicate 50-70 times in our life time.

It has been well known for some time, that as we age the cells cannot continue dividing due to telomere shortening.  Other factors besides aging that can strongly affect the telomere shortening are stress, depression and unhealthy lifestyle (no exercise, obesity and bad diet).  It has been shown that change of lifestyle can lengthen the telomeres, and therefore slow and reverse the aging process.  With healthy eating, regular exercise, weight management, good supplements and positive outlook on life we can slow down the telomere shortening.

Another Reason It is Hard to Slow Aging

We know that aging depends on the cells lesser ability to replicate themselves.  During the DNA replication process essential parts of the DNA can be damaged.  When a cell divides it does not only accumulate the length of the previous cells but also all the genetic mistakes.  Aging is therefore the buildup of genetic and cellular error, mainly in telomerase active cells.  As the cells age, they become sluggish because genetic mistakes build up. The innate repair mechanisms of the cells are also becoming sluggish.  A brunch of gerontology deals with how well we can accelerate the repair mechanisms of the cells.

Can Telomerase Reverse The Aging Process?

A measure of cell aging provides a measure of health, disease risk, and our ability to respond to therapeutic drugs.  We have known for many years that as a cell ages, its telomeres become shorter.  Shorter telomeres are associated with shorter lives, says geneticist Richard Cawthon.  Other researchers have found a correlation between telomere length and susceptibility to certain aging-related diseases.  No doubt, telomere shortening is linked to the aging process.  We can determine, therefore, the rate of cell division, and consequently the rate we age, by measuring the length of the telomeres.

When telomeres are too short, some cells turn into cancer.  Cancerous cells have the ability to prevent their telomeres from getting shorter by activating telomerase.  If telomerase makes cancer cells immortal, how would the administration of telomerase prevent normal cells from becoming cancerous? Dr. David Sinclair believes that cancerous tumors can be prevented with the activation of telomerase.

However, how can we make sure that when we hit normal cells with telomerase we do not affect in the process also the cancer cells?  Or is it possible that telomerase activation could reduce the chances of cells becoming cancerous by keeping all telomeres longer in the first place?  Would immune cells be kept alive longer, and fight off most cancerous cells?  The scientific community is working hard to unravel the answers to the complete telomere story.

Can We Slow Aging With A Pill?

Root of the astragalus plant

T.A. Sciences is the first company manufacturing a supplement in a pill form, in hopes of reversing the aging process and slow aging.  Their product, called TA 65, is a natural activator of the enzyme telomerase and has been shown to stop telomeres from shortening.  It is derived from the roots of the astragalus plant requires no approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because it is marketed as a supplement and not a drug.  Persons who took this expensive supplement reported more clarity, increased energy, weight loss, improved sleep, better digestion and in the long run better skin appearance.  Dr. Ed Park’s patients also report serious spinal malfunctions and back pain improvement.

Telomerase activation influences only a few genes, which are all related to cell cycle repair and DNA repair.  If telomerase is the same enzyme that allows cancer cells to become immortal, there is a chance that TA-65 could keep alive cancer cells that would otherwise die, notes William Andrews who has worked on telomere biology for the past 15 years.   However, the potential risks involved in taking telomerase, has not stopped Andrews from being a client of T.A. Sciences.

Per physicist Michio Kaku, however, telomerase research is a significant breakthrough but taking telomerase is not the fountain of youth.  There are other factors contributing to aging.  Our current knowledge on telomerase is just a piece of a tantalizing truth that may enable us to unravel the aging process in the future when combined with other therapies aiming to reverse aging.