"Those with shorter than average TELOMERES...appeared to have an Increased risk of Immune System problems and a variety of degenerative diseases...as well as pulmonary fibrosis...Those with longer telomeres appeared to have a modestly increased risk of cancer.
Some organisms have crazy long telomeres...like mice...said Dr. Benjamin Farber...Chairman of Medical Oncology at the Dana-Farber Institute "and mice don't live that long." The question then becomes...does length of telomeres provide a roadmap...on a molecular level ...to length of life for any organism.