Studies & Research

Intermountain study finds length of DNA

"...research shows that if we statistically adjust for age, patient with longer telomeres live longer..."

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Can the length of strands of DNA in patients with heart disease predict their life expectancy? Researchers from Intermountain Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City, who studied the DNA of more than 3,500 patients with heart disease, say yes it can.

In the new study, presented Saturday, March 9, at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session in San Francisco, the researchers were able to predict survival rates among patients with heart disease based on the length of strands of DNA found on the ends of chromosomes known as telomeres – the longer the patient’s telomeres, the greater the chance of living a longer life.