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Science Fact of the Week

A new study links Women’s expected longevity to age at birth of her last child.

As suggested by The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), no one however is certain on how long they would live for but using leukocyte telomere length offers some insights into a women’s projected lifespan. It further shows how maternal age at last birth of her last child influences the length of the telomere and long-term health. Telomeres are the repeating DNA protein complexes that play the role of protecting the endings of chromosomes and have also proven to be vital for maintaining genomic stability. In past, these Telomeres have been linked to a number of chronic conditions namely cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, a variety of cancers, and a few neurological conditions. The study has found a positive correlation between maternal age at last birth and telomere. In other words, women who had longer telomeres at the last child’s birth, reflects as a biomarker of long-term health and longevity, though this finding is restricted to women with one or two live births or used contraceptives.

Author: Tanvi Dabas

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