In this episode of Longevity Roadmap, host Buck Joffrey speaks with Dr. Bill Andrews, the molecular biologist best known for discovering the human telomerase gene. Andrews shares why he believes telomere shortening is the central mechanism of aging and how his research is exploring ways to restore telomere length to slow or even reverse age-related decline.

Key Points:

Bill Andrews explains how telomere shortening, the gradual loss of protective DNA caps at the ends of chromosomes, may be the root cause driving all aging processes. He argues that reactivating telomerase—the enzyme that rebuilds telomeres—could not only slow aging but potentially stop or even reverse it, opening the door to longer healthspans and new treatments for age-related diseases.

• Telomeres as the aging clock – Telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, shorten every time cells divide. When they become too short, cells stop dividing, leading to aging and disease.
• Telomerase discovery – Andrews led the team that discovered the telomerase gene, which can restore telomere length. This enzyme is active in reproductive cells but shut off in most others, leaving the body with a one-sided “tug-of-war” that leads to inevitable telomere shortening.
• Debunking telomere myths – Claims that lifestyle or therapies like hyperbaric oxygen can lengthen telomeres are misleading. These methods may only skew averages by removing short-telomere cells, which could actually accelerate aging.
• Research into telomerase activators – Andrews’ lab has screened thousands of plant extracts, identifying several that mildly induce telomerase. While not strong enough to reverse aging completely, these compounds may slow telomere loss and extend healthspan.
• Gene therapy and future hopes – The most promising approach, he argues, is gene therapy that reactivates telomerase across the body. Though expensive and risky today, this strategy could one day reverse aging and even restore memory in conditions like Alzheimer’s.