Telomeres are the caps at the end of each strand of DNA, that protect it, like the plastic tips at the end of shoelaces. Telomeres shorten each time a cell divides and act as a clock that signals cells to age.
Eventually telomeres become so short that the DNA is unprotected and cells stop functioning or die.
An enzyme called telomerase can slow, stop or perhaps even reverse the telomere shortening that happens as we age. The amount of telomerase in our bodies declines as we get older.
Exposing human cells to telomerase slows cell ageing and allows cells to begin copying again. Activating telomerase can:
Address telomere shortening and cell ageing
Help cells live longer and continue to function properly including T cells which are part of a healthy immune response.
Make old cells function as they did when they were younger (by changing gene expression to a younger phenotype).