New research has found that current smokers have significantly shorter leucocyte telomere lengths, indicating accelerated aging and decreased cellular self-repair and regeneration; quitting smoking can potentially reduce this risk. The findings add to the growing body of evidence that smoking contributes to aging and is associated with numerous diseases, and they advocate for the inclusion of smoking cessation support in clinical management.
A study of nearly 500,000 people indicates that smoking reduces the length of telomeres, the terminal segments of chromosomes found in white blood cells integral to our immune systems. The measurement of these telomeres serves as a gauge for determining our rate of aging and the ability of our cells to mend and rejuvenate themselves.
In her presentation to the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Milan, Italy, Dr. Siyu Dai, who is an assistant professor in the School of Clinical Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, and also an honorary postdoctoral researcher in the department of pediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, said: “Our study shows that smoking status and cigarette quantity can result in the shortening of leucocyte telomere length, which is an indicator of tissue self-repair, regeneration and aging. In other words, smoking can accelerate the process of aging, while quitting may considerably decrease the related risk.”
Telomeres are like the plastic or metal sheathes at the end of shoelaces, which prevent the shoelaces from fraying. They are lengths of repetitive DNA sequences that protect the ends of chromosomes. Each time a cell divides, the telomeres become slightly shorter, eventually becoming so short that the cell can no longer divide successfully, and it dies.
This is part of the aging process. Telomere length in white blood cells (called leucocytes) has been linked previously to smoking, but, until now, there has been little research into whether smoking status and the quantity of cigarettes smoked actually caused the shortening in telomere length.
Dr Dai and her colleague Dr Feng Chen, from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, analyzed data from the UK Biobank, which contains genetic and health information from half a million UK participants. They looked at whether a person was a current smoker, previous smoker, or had never smoked, their level of addiction to smoking, how many cigarettes they smoked (the pack years of cigarette consumption), as well as information on leucocyte telomere length taken from blood tests.
I – Word Understanding
Leucocyte – White blood cells.
Telomeres – are structures made from DNA sequences and proteins found at the ends of chromosomes.
Gauge – is to measure or test.
Rejuvenate – to make young again; restore to youthful vigor, appearance
II – Have Your Say
1, How smokers can cause themselves serious problems?
