By What telomere length has to do with dementia risk
A new study published by PLOS ONE compared telomere length in white blood cells to brain MRIs in over 31,000 U.K participants and found a number of interesting correlations between telomere length and cognitive function.
They found that individuals with longer telomeres had better brain health measurements, including:
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Shrinking gray matter volume, hippocampal atrophy, brain iron accumulation, and accelerated thinning cerebral cortex are all associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Volume of white matter hyperintensities increases with aging and is an indicator of cognitive decline.
This study’s results suggest that longer telomeres provide neuroprotective actions and help prevent dementia. Additionally, accelerated cellular aging is a potential biological pathway for neurodegenerative disease.
How to increase your telomere length for healthy aging
While the biological aging process is a bit complex, lengthening telomeres to support healthy cellular aging is surprisingly simple.
When it comes to nutrition, there are two simple tools that can help increase telomere length and promote longevity:
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The takeaway
Telomere length has been linked to biological aging for quite some time now, and a recent study from PLOS ONE shows that longer telomeres may even play a part in protecting the brain from dementia.
Consider lengthening your telomeres with the help of a daily multivitamin and/or a quality vitamin D supplement.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, consult with your doctor before starting a supplement routine. It is always optimal to consult with a health care provider when considering what supplements are right for you.
