A pivotal systematic review and meta-analysis published in the journal Cell Biology and Toxicology has delivered a nuanced and clinically complex verdict on TA-65®, the most commercially prominent telomerase activator currently available. The study, conducted by a research team at the West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, aggregated data from eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 750 participants to determine if the compound’s ability to lengthen telomeres translates into tangible healthspan benefits.
The analysis provides high-certainty evidence that TA-65 successfully induces telomere elongation in human leukocytes, with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.47 (p < 0.00001). Notably, this molecular reversal of aging was significantly more potent in older adults (over 60 years) and appeared robust regardless of the measurement technique employed (Southern blot, qPCR, or Flow-FISH). However, the report uncovers a critical “Telomere-Function Disconnect”: despite the restoration of telomere length, there were no statistically significant improvements in key functional markers of aging, including frailty scores, grip strength, walking speed, or systemic inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6).
Furthermore, the study illuminated a significant funding bias, with industry-sponsored trials reporting efficacy nearly 50% higher than independent investigations. While the safety profile remains favorable—showing no increase in short-term oncogenic events or severe adverse reactions over 12 months—the authors conclude that targeting telomere length in isolation fails to reverse the phenotypic decline of aging. This disconnect forces a paradigm shift in longevity science, suggesting that future interventions must move beyond unimodal biomarkers to address the multifactorial nature of senescent decay.
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Source (Open Access) Paper: Effects of TA-65 on telomere length, functional outcomes, and inflammation: a systematic review and meta-analysis