Scientists link faster ‘biological’ ageing with CVD and cancer risk

An international team of scientists led by the University of Leicester has found new evidence that links faster ‘biological’ ageing to the risk of developing several age-related diseases, including heart disease, multiple sclerosis and various cancers. The study involved scientists in 14 centres across eight countries, working as part of the ENGAGE Consortium.  The research was published online recently (March 27) in the journal Nature Genetics. The project studied a feature of chromosomes called telomeres. Telomeres sit on the end of our chromosomes and shorten each time a cell divides to make new cells, until they reach a critical short…