Are Telomere Tests Ready for the Public?
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Photo by Louis Reed, UK
Telomeres. The caps on the ends of our chromosomes that protect them from deterioration, fusion, or senescence. However as our chromosomes split over time these caps truncate and truncate until like a shoelace without an aglet the chromosomes fray and fuse. This leads to senescence, inflammation, and potentially the growth of cancerous cells.
Since these “biomarkers” shorten as we age, many companies have begun to offer home tests to potentially show the users “true” biological age, how healthy they are, and their susceptibility to various diseases. But are these tests ready for the public? What useful information can they derive from the length of their telomeres? And is it worth your money to try one?