The role of telomeres and targeted interventions

Over the past century, life expectancy has greatly increased in developed countries, but with it, chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders also rise. Ageing processes, including telomere attrition (shortening of telomeres), lead to the deterioration of cell function, ultimately accelerating tissue degradation. Telomere shortening is a protective mechanism but paradoxically contributes to ageing and age-related diseases by triggering senescence or cell death once telomeres reach a critical length.