15/01/2026
At the ends of your chromosomes sit telomeres, protective caps like the tips of shoelaces that prevent DNA from “fraying.” Each time a cell divides, they get shorter, and when they are used up, the cell dies. Stress drastically accelerates this process.
Elizabeth Blackburn discovered telomerase, an enzyme that can restore telomeres. Your state matters: stress suppresses it, while rest, presence, and gratitude promote it. You don’t just age with time—you also age with chronic stress.
Studies show that chronic stress can be associated with shorter telomeres. For example, mothers caring for seriously ill children had, on average, significantly shorter telomeres than comparison groups.
Meditation, mindfulness, and intentional relaxation can increase telomerase activity. Even a few minutes a day of slow breathing and body awareness send a signal to your nervous system to switch into rest mode.
