The fact that men and women are different is pretty common knowledge. But it wasn’t until recently that healthcare providers faced the fact that what was right for the goose wasn’t necessarily right for the gander. Time and time again clinical trials were conducted on men with results being applied to both sexes.
But that old-time understanding has changed and a lot of it has been spearheaded by former First Lady Laura Bush and the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health at Texas Tech University.
Annually, the Institute has held a morning gathering for women to learn of new developments thanks to its efforts and leadership.
On Monday, February 26, the Dallas Country Club was filled to the brim for a morning coffee to hear speakers on the unusual topic of “What’s a Telomere Got To Do With It?” underwritten by Lana Andrews, Lee Ann White, PlainsCapital Bank and Andrews Distributing. Unfortunately, Laura wasn’t able to make the gathering. She was in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband paying respects to the late Billy Graham as he lay in repose.
While the very word “telomere” might have been off putting for some, it wasn’t for this crowd including Co-Chairs Jeanne Tower Cox and Jan Rees-Jones, Debbie Francis, Meredith Land, Diana Strauss, Diane Scovell, Lisa Troutt, Tiffany Divis, Alexa Conomos, Laura Miller, Lisa Cooley, Laura McClung, Priscilla Garcia, Amy Ananian, Carol Seay, Barbara Stuart and Lydia Novakov.
Thanks to moderator Texas Tech VP for Health Policy and Special Health Program Dr. Cynthia Jumper and guest speakers Texas Tech Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences/Professor Dr. Brandt Schneider and New York Times best-selling author of “The Telomere Effect” Dr. Elissa Epel, they learned about the about the link between DNA, health, lifestyle, stress and nutrition. Telomeres are officially defined as compound structures at the end of a chromosome like the cap on a shoelace.
From childhood through maturity, the telomeres of one’s DNA reflect well-being. Without them, DNA strands become damaged and our cells can’t do their job As we age, they decline, but that process can be slowed and regeneration is possible, thus reversing damage and slowing the aging process itself.