A new discovery in Telomere Disease: Playing the long-game.
Telomeres are the protective caps on our chromosomes that prevent them from fraying. Each time we divide our cells, a small amount of DNA is lost. Telomeres continue to shorten as we age. However, in some medical conditions, such as dyskeratosis, this process can be accelerated.
Becca Hudson was diagnosed with dyskeratosis at the age of 14. My telomeres were below the first percentile of my age.
Becca, 14, was unable to participate in cheerleading because her bloodwork showed abnormalities. She had low counts of white, red, and platelet cells. She was told by her doctor to be admitted the same night at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Source:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-07-playing-game-discovery-telomere-disease.html