Predicting Survival from Telomere Length versus Conventional Predictors

Researchers measured telomere length, the protective ends of chromosomes, in blood samples from older adults. They compared it with usual information such as age, sex, smoking, health conditions, and physical ability. The participants were then followed to see who lived longer. Shorter telomeres were linked with a higher chance of dying, but telomere length did not predict survival better than the ordinary health measures.

What this means for you: A telomere-length test does not appear to offer much useful information beyond standard health checks. There is no good reason to buy a telomere test to estimate your lifespan based on this study.