Telomeres are the repetitive DNA sequences that protect the ends of chromosomes, like the plastic caps on shoelaces. Every time a cell divides, its telomeres shorten slightly; when they become too short, the cell stops dividing — a phenomenon known as the Hayflick limit.

Telomerase is the enzyme that can maintain or lengthen telomeres. In most adult cells its activity is minimal. That is why the scientific literature studies it as a point of interest in the biology of cellular aging and in longevity models.

Compounds such as Epithalon are investigated in this context for their proposed role in telomerase activity, mainly in in vitro and preclinical studies. The available evidence is preclinical and requires larger independent replication.