Within each human cell is the secret of youth. It is not the spring that Juan Ponce de León was looking for nor a magic potion, but something much more fascinating: the telomeres.
These regions of DNA They are the guardians of the biological clock of cells, and their state can determine how long you live and how you age.
What are they and why do they matter?
Imagine the laces on your sneakers. At the end of each cord, there is a small plastic tip that prevents them from fraying. Telomeres fulfill a similar function in chromosomes – the structures that contain genetic information. Like the plastic tip of the shoelaces, Telomeres are “protectors” of chromosomes, ensuring that when cells divide, genetic information remains intact..
In each cell division, the cell duplicates each chromosome to form two identical daughter cells, but the ends of the chromosomes, where the telomeres are, cannot be copied. This causes telomeres to shorten slightly with each cycle. When telomeres become too short, cells can no longer divide and begin to malfunction or die. This shortening is directly associated with aging and a higher risk of developing diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Telomeres also have to do with longevity, which is not measured only in years lived. Biological age – which reflects the functional state of the organism – can differ significantly from chronological age, that is, how old you are. This difference is influenced by the length of telomeres, which determine cellular aging. Thus, two people with the same chronological age can have very different biological ages, depending on the rate at which their telomeres shorten..
Simply put, telomeres are key indicators of biological health and longevity. But the big question is, is there anything that can be done to conserve them?
Positive relationships: the best medicine
Taking care of telomeres doesn’t depend solely on a healthy diet or exercise (although it helps). Recent research has revealed that Quality human relationships – those connections that make people feel understood, loved and supported – can have a direct impact on telomere length.
According to studies led by psychologist Elissa Epel and the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine Elizabeth Blackburnpeople who experience high levels of social stress or toxic relationships tend to have shorter telomeres. On the contrary, those who maintain positive ties and a strong social network show longer and healthier telomeres.
The reason? Chronic stress, derived from emotional conflicts or social isolation, increases the production of cortisol, a hormone that can damage telomeres. Instead, Positive emotions and social support help reduce inflammation and activate protective mechanisms in cells. In addition, regular physical contact – such as hugs – reduces cortisol levels and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, generating a state of calm that reduces cellular damage and protects telomeres from premature wear.
Medicate yourself with laughter and contact
In other words, taking care of telomeres does not require Botox, surgery or expensive treatments or advanced technologies. To a large extent, it is available to everyone. It is about betting on joy and enriching interactions with people who give support and deep meaning to life..
As science continues to explore the mysteries of aging and longevity, one thing is clear: the secret to youth is not found in a magic pill or a mythological source. It is, to a large extent, in human relationships and the ability to live a life surrounded by love, gratitude and good friends.
So, in this Christmaschoose your tribe well and, every time you share a laugh with a friend to the tone of a coquito or when you feel the warm hug of a loved one to the sound of the New Year’s Eve bells, think that you are “medicating”, since, With every laugh, with every touch, you are taking care of the tiny telomeres that protect the very essence of life.of the cells. In that simple and human act is the true secret of youth.
The author is a distinguished research professor at the Interamerican University of Puerto, in Aguadilla, and a member of Ciencia Puerto Rico (www.cienciapr.org).