How telomere biology informs the mental health problems of children

Telomeres and their biology faithfully maintain cellular genetic information. Telomere length is increasingly used as a biomarker of health, indicating whether cells have aged or experienced damage. The response of telomeres may mirror cellular stress responses that impact emotional, cognitive, and behavioral functioning. Efforts have been made to better understand factors contributing to mental health disorders of childhood by examining telomere length differences that occur with exposure to risk factors for child mental health disorders and within clinical populations.
Source: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Symposium 11 Source Type: research