Emotions Stress and Rate of Telomere Shortening: Are Our Cells Listening to Us?

Published: April 9, 2012, 9 p.m.

Does stress speed up the aging process at a genetic level? Our cells are constantly aging. When cell divide some telomere is lost but if it becomes too short, that cell can no longer replicate and eventual dies. Elissa Epel, UCSF department of psychiatry, explores the affects of stress and emotions on the process of telomere shortening. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 23204]