Shrinking telomeres linked to heart disease

January 11, 2007 | Source: NewScientist.com news service

People who go on to have heart attacks have much shorter telomeres than those who remain healthy, a major new study has shown.

Telomeres are strands of DNA that cap chromosomes and wear away with each cell division.

Statins’ ability to protect patients from heart disease and stroke so effectively might be due to limiting the damage caused by telomere shortening, said Leicester University cardiologist Nilesh Samani.