Telomere Testing

Our DNA contains telomeres, which are located at the end of our chromosomes. Telomeric sequences serve an important purpose: shielding our genetic code from being erased or fused with other chromosomes during cell division. Moreover, these protective structures consist of TTAGGG base repeats that do not carry any meaningful information.

Our telomeres are constantly being shortened with each cell division until they become critically short. At that point, the cells can either go into apoptosis (programmed cell death) or senescence (sleep mode). The fewer divisions the cell does, the longer our telomere length will remain and thus allowing us to delay this process for much longer!

Numerous studies have demonstrated a correlation between lengthy telomeres and a longer time required for shortening, which ultimately leads to longer life expectancy. Telomere length and the rate for their shortening are among the essential indicators used to evaluate aging. Advanced testing for telomeres can help identify and measure the size of our telomeres, helping us better understand the aging process and our future health.

Determining telomeres’ length was an imprecise process as it measured the average length across all chromosomes. With 46 chromosomes, 23 from each parent, the average size could be quite significantly different when compared to the longest and shortest telomere. This average measurement of the telomeres posed a problem because cell death would occur when the telomere with the shortest strand, and only the shortest strand, reached zero. Standard testing, while helpful, is limited in providing detailed insights into this process.

Fortunately, modern advances in testing methods allow us to determine all respective lengths and precisely isolate and measure that of the shortest telomere – enabling us to accurately estimate biological age based on this data.

The technology employed by Life Length Advanced Telomere Testing is the most accurate on the market. In contrast to most industries that use PCR technology, these advanced tests utilize the Q-FISH technique to conduct an even more precise analysis, allowing them to assess critically short telomeres comprehensively.

While there are various ways to measure telomere lengths, such as TRF (Terminal Restriction Fragment) Analysis, Quantitative Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (Q-FISH), Flow FISH, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Chromosome Specific Single Telomere Length Analysis (STELA), and Universal STELA, it is essential to note that average telomere length holds little meaning when it is only the shortest telomeric regions which cause senescence and genomic instability.

The Q-FISH method gives us insights into short telomere lengths in normal cells, yet this technique relies heavily on pieces of RNA that bind to telomeres. Unfortunately, these particles may not always reach the smallest telomeres, which can lead to inaccurate results and an overall decrease in testing accuracy. However, this method has been proven to be more reliable than the PCR method, and when combined with STELA, it can provide us with a far better gauge of telomere health.

Advanced testing for telomeres provides individuals with a wealth of information that standard testing simply cannot offer. With this testing, we can better understand your telomere health and how it affects your overall well-being. With regular advanced testing for telomeres, you’ll have an accurate gauge of your biological age, allowing you to make better-informed decisions about your lifestyle and future health.

Our centers do Telomere Testing by Life Length on our patients to evaluate various conditions, including: