Children who sleep less may age faster

摘要

A LACK of sleep doesn't just turn children into a grumpy handful, it may also accelerate their cellular ageing - a process that could have long-term health effects. Telomeres - the caps at the ends of our chromosomes - get shorter every time our cells divide, and when they get too short it is thought that cells are no longer able to divide to repair and replenish the body - a sign of ageing. Some small studies in adults have suggested that sleep might be linked to telomere length.