Stressed People Age Faster

Severe emotional strain makes the body age faster, according to scientifictests on extremely stressed people.Internationally- renowned Australian biochemist Professor Elizabeth Blackburnhas revealed new research into the links between stress and ageing in aMelbourne lecture delivered tonight.The US-based scientist discovered a special enzyme, telomerase, which ispivotal in the ageing process.It works by protecting the end of chromosomes, called telomeres, whichgradually wear away in normal ageing.In a new study, Prof Blackburn and her team at the University of Californiahave found that severely stressed people have extreme "wear and tear" totheir telomeres.They tested their hypothesis with controlled studies involving dementiacarers and a mother who looked after her disabled child for long periods."In the long-term, in situations such as where a mother is caring for achild with a disability or a carer is looking after an old person withdementia, that constant high stress level leads to the telomere beingshortened," Prof Blackburn said."If the telomere is run down, the cell will stop operations and will notself-renew."The shortening of the telomeres appears to be over and above what wouldnormally happen in the natural course of ageing."The researchers also found diminished levels of the enzyme in people withheart disease risks.Prof Blackburn has won a series of high profile accolades for her researchinto telomerase, including the Lasker Award, which has historically putrecipients in line for a Nobel Prize.The award, bestowed last October, also commended Prof Blackburn for speakingout against the "politicisation" of medical research.The scientist was controversially dismissed from US President George WBush's Council on Bioethics over her insistence that council's reportsshould be protected from the influence of politics.
[SMH]