A systematic review on the association of metabolic syndrome with telomere length and telomerase activity

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of conditions that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes and has been linked to accelerate cellular aging. MetS participants exhibited shorter telomeres and disrupted telomerase activity, suggesting increased biological aging. Lifestyle interventions, particularly high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and mindfulness practices, were associated with telomere elongation and improved telomerase activity, whereas pharmacological approaches showed inconsistent results. Thus, we show the protective role of lifestyle modification, large-scale randomized controlled trials across diverse populations are needed to validate long-term benefits on cellular aging and disease outcomes.