Effect of Stress Upon Children

"They grow up too fast!"  That is a phrase I have heard all my life; "they" being people who are in hardship living conditions.  Now it has been confirmed scientifically according to Liz Szabo in USA Today(Tuesday, April 24, 2012, page 1).  In the Molecular Psychiarty magazine Dor Idan Shalev tells how studies suggest that violence shortens the life span of a chromosome tip which in turn makes the chromosome die up to 10 years quicker.  Telomeres are special DNA sequences that act like the plastic tips on shoelaces, which prevents a shoestring from unraveling.  These Telomeres get shorter each time a cell divides until a cell can't divide any more, so it dies.  Smoking, radiation, and psychological stresses (early abuse or hostile environment), or tending to a chronically ill.  When exposed to two or more types of violence the telomeres shorten at a greater rate (Duke Institute for Genome Science & Policy in Durham, NC).  This temomere's issue brings on early heartattacks and memory loss 7 to 10 years earlier than their peers. 

The note also affirms that spiritual development, nutrition, exercise, and stress reduction will reverse the damage, an even lengthen the telomeres.