Scientists assessed telomere length in more than 245,000 participants from the UK Biobank. It turned out that alcohol
Previous research has shown that alcohol is particularly harmful to those under 40 and may slow down the rate of growth of the developing brain in adolescents and young adults.
However, these studies did not showwhether alcohol is actually responsible for these effects, or if relevant factors such as socioeconomic status are to blame. A new genetic analysis solves the problem.
Researchers at Oxford Population Healthpresented the results of a new genetic analysis. They suggest that alcohol directly accelerates aging by damaging DNA in telomeres, the institution said in a press release.
“These results support the hypothesis thatthat alcohol, especially in excessive amounts, directly affects telomere length. Shortened telomeres have been suggested as risk factors for a number of severe age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Our results will be useful to doctors and patients. In addition, the dose of alcohol is important - even reducing alcohol consumption can be beneficial, ”said the study leader, Dr. Anja Topivala from Oxford Population Health.
Previously, scientists found that telomere shortening andtelomerase activity is associated, for example, with the development of cancer and cardiovascular disease, as well as with a decrease in immunity. It is believed that the biological age of a person can be determined by the length of his telomeres.
Read more:
The supersonic plane will fly at a speed of 2,000 km/h and cross the ocean in 3.5 hours
Scientists filmed a strange creature with tentacles, which they mistook for a flower
Created a quantum computer that "went beyond the binary system"