Shorter telomeres with high telomerase activity are associated with raised allostatic load and impoverished psychosocial resources

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1322145111
• Publication Date: 2014-03-11T01:34:20Z
• Authors: Argita Zalli; Livia A. Carvalho; Jue Lin; Mark Hamer; Jorge D. Erusalimsky; Elizabeth H. Blac...; Andrew Steptoe
• Keywords: Allostatic load; Allostasis

Significance These findings indicate that the combination of shorter leukocyte telomeres with high telomerase activity is associated stress-related impairment function at both biological and psychological levels. Slow poststress recovery in cardiovascular inflammatory responses reduced stress responsivity blood pressure cortisol are indicative a state heightened allostatic load. Older men telomere/high phenotype also show impoverished resources for dealing stress, including low levels social support optimism higher hostility. The integrated approach taken this study advances our understanding cellular substrate processes documents dynamic interplay between environmental exposures mechanisms underlying chromosomal integrity.