Science AMA Series: We are researchers Elizabeth Blackburn (cell biologist) and Elissa Epel (health psychologist). We have been studying the relationships between telomeres/telomerase with psychological and behavioral factors, and with disease.

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Many factors contribute to aging and illness, and one of these factors is the telomere/telomerase maintenance system (http://ift.tt/1co2nzq). Short telomeres contribute to one path of aging – cells running out of the ability to keep dividing (“replicative senescence”). While this path is less important in the health of some animal species, it appears important in humans because they have long lives over decades. Telomeres are a reliable predictor of diseases of aging, as now shown by meta-analyses. We also see relationships with stress and lifestyle factors, mostly in correlational studies but also some experimental studies.

We have summarized all these findings across disciplines for the public In our book (The Telomere Effect). Many studies now show that chronic stress, low sleep quality, aspects of exercise and diet, and certain chemicals are associated with shorter telomeres. This is a fast moving field and we love to talk about the findings so far, patterns, gaps, and future directions. Feel free to ask us any questions you may have such as about inflammation and telomeres, reasons why cells may age prematurely, and what look like promising interventions for telomere maintenance.

Liz Blackburn, PhD is a professor at UCSF in the department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and President of the Salk Institute. She co-discovered Telomerase, the enzyme that replenishes telomeres. Telomeres are the protective caps at the ends of our chromosomes that protect our genes. For this work, she won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Elissa Epel, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, at University of California, San Francisco. She is the Director of the Aging, Metabolism, and Emotions Lab. She studies effects of stress on the telomere/telomerase maintenance system and on eating and weight.

We will be back at 11:30 am ET to answer your questions!

">Science AMA Series: We are researchers Elizabeth Blackburn (cell biologist) and Elissa Epel (health psychologist). We have been studying the relationships between telomeres/telomerase with psychological and behavioral factors, and with disease.