Contrary to what many people want you to believe, age may be a trait that exists in more than just your head. Your genetic code undergoes aging, which in turn causes telomeres, a specific part of your genes, to become shorter. Scientists have correlated shorter telomeres with a greater incidence of age-related diseases. These include cardiovascular disease, diabetes and even age-related skin conditions like wrinkles or age spots.
The good news is that stem cells may offer a way to reverse the processes that cause telomeres to shorten. By lengthening these telomeres, you may be able to turn back the clock on aging rather than simply correcting its symptoms.
The Role of Telomeres in Aging
Human genetic code is stored in strands of DNA. This code is vital to the replication of cells. Any damage can cause cells to mutate in ways that can make them less perfect than they should be.
Telomeres exist as protective “caps” at the end of DNA strands. They keep DNA strands safe until the time for cell replication comes. When these caps become shorter, DNA tends to degrade at a faster rate. This limits the number of times that cells can duplicate and allows less-than-perfect cells to be created with a higher incidence.
These less-than-perfect cells allow for everything from wrinkles to age-related diseases to form. They can even be responsible for the gradual loss of elasticity in skin, collagen displacement and a variety of other conditions that are visible to the naked eye.
How Can Stem Cells Repair Telomeres?
The trick to lengthening telomeres is to reduce the amount of degradation that occurs when cells multiply. This requires creating a copy of RNA that is as close to the original DNA as possible.
Stem cells are one of the few biological materials that can make a near duplicate of another cell, which includes a near duplicate of DNA. This allows the telomeres created during this process to be at their maximum length, which in turn can effectively reverse the effects of aging at a cellular level.
When cells have longer telomeres, they can generally duplicate more times than they would otherwise. This results in healthier cells that have a longer lifespan, which results in a body that has some of the effects of aging reversed.
Are Stem Cells a Miracle Cure for Telomeres?
While stem cells can provide a significant reversal in the effects of aging, they are not a panacea for the effects of aging. You will still need to modify your diet and exercise plan to enjoy the full benefits that stem cells can bring in terms of anti-aging. The reason for this concerns the way telomeres work. They tend to lengthen significantly when you choose healthier lifestyle choices. Stem cells work best as anti-aging agents when these telomeres are at their longest lengths.
Our staff at Innovative Medicine can help you decide if stem cell therapy is right for you. With our experience in stem cell therapy, we will be able to customize the appropriate treatment. Contact us to schedule your consultation today.
