The relationship between telomere length and aging-related diseases

Researchers examined how telomere length relates to diseases that become more common with age. Telomeres are protective DNA caps at the ends of chromosomes, which are structures that carry genetic information. The evidence generally linked shorter telomeres with some aging-related diseases, but the strength of these links varied. This was not a test of a treatment, and the record does not provide a participant count or show that changing telomere length prevents disease.

What this means for you: Short telomeres may be a sign of biological stress or aging, but they are not proven to directly cause disease. Do not buy telomere tests or supplements based on this evidence alone.