Associations Of Outdoor Artificial Light At Night Exposure With Telomere Length And Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number In Children And Adolescents: Examining Sex-Specific Associations
Have you ever wondered how the bright lights of our cities at night might be affecting our children? A recent study explored the connection between outdoor artificial light at night (ALAN) and two important indicators of cellular health and aging in young people: telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number.
Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of our chromosomes, like the plastic tips on shoelaces, that shorten naturally as we age. Shorter telomeres are often linked to various health issues. Mitochondrial DNA copy number refers to the amount of genetic material found in mitochondria, the “powerhouses” of our cells, and it also plays a role in cellular aging and energy production.
Researchers investigated 1151 children and adolescents aged 6-18, assessing their exposure to outdoor ALAN using satellite data and measuring their telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number. The findings revealed a notable inverse relationship: greater exposure to outdoor ALAN was associated with shorter telomere length in these young individuals. Interestingly, this effect was particularly evident in boys. However, the study did not find a significant link between outdoor ALAN exposure and mitochondrial DNA copy number.
This research suggests that the increasing presence of artificial light at night in our environment might be influencing cellular aging processes in children and adolescents, especially in boys. These insights highlight the need for further investigation into the mechanisms behind these associations and the potential long-term health implications.
Source: link to paper