Short chromosome tips linked to lower physical function in the elderly
Thursday, September 6, 2018 - 19:20
in Health & Medicine
Elderly people with short telomeres -- the 'caps' at the ends of each chromosome -- are more likely to have difficulty performing daily activities such as carrying groceries, climbing stairs and walking. The study of more than 1,200 people from five European countries suggests that short telomeres are an independent risk factor for age-related functional decline, and opens the possibility that slowing telomere shortening may have a positive effect on physical ability in old age.