Recent research has demonstrated that telomere maintenance might be a key integrating
point for the cumulative effects of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors on aging and
aging-related diseases. It is timely to 'take stock'of where this work has led the field. This
review summarizes studies that have examined associations between lifestyle factors and
telomere length and telomerase activity. In most of the studies described in this chapter,
telomere length was measured in leukocytes (LTL) or peripheral blood mononuclear cells …