Research
Mixed
Telomere erosion is a primary driver of senescence and aging, although its relative importance varies between species.
Telomere shortening contributes to cellular aging, but it is not the only factor. Other mechanisms like metabolic dysfunction and inflammation also play critical roles. A holistic approach to health is necessary.
ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
Supporting the causative role of telomere erosion in aging, deletion of telomerase in mice eventually results in premature aging... Correlative evidence supports telomere erosion as a major driver of aging decline, yet this is challenged by mammals such as laboratory mice (Mus musculus), whose telomeres do not reach a critical limit during normal aging.
Why this rating
Evidence is mixed between species; strong in humans/cellular models, less clear in standard lab mice.
Source
Senescence and aging: Causes, consequences, and therapeutic avenues
Domhnall McHugh et al. · The Journal of Cell Biology · 2017
DOI 10.1083/jcb.201708092
narrative_reviewCited 1,218×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Genetic or pharmacological ablation of senescent cells extends life span and improves health span in mice by reducing age-related pathologies.Good
- The accumulation of senescent cells and their Secretory Phenotype (SASP) drives chronic inflammation (inflammaging) and contributes to age-related tissue dysfunction.Good
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