Children and even grandchildren of older fathers may live longer than children of younger men, according to a new study. Scientists at Northwestern University found that children born to fathers between the ages of late 30s to early 50s inherit longer "telomeres" or tiny protective caps on the ends of chromosomes that protect against aging degeneration and disease. Professor Christopher Kuzawa, an anthropologist at Northwestern University, said that while most telomeres shorten with time, they lengthen in sperm, maybe because
...moreChildren and even grandchildren of older fathers may live longer than children of younger men, according to a new study. Scientists at Northwestern University found that children born to fathers between the ages of late 30s to early 50s inherit longer "telomeres" or tiny protective caps on the ends of chromosomes that protect against aging degeneration and disease. Professor Christopher Kuzawa, an anthropologist at Northwestern University, said that while most telomeres shorten with time, they lengthen in sperm, maybe because of the an enzyme that extend telomere length, telomerase, is high in testes. Just as telomere shortening has been linked to aging, past studies have found that lengthening telomeres can extend life and reverse signs of aging in laboratory mice. The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
