Anti-aging compound claims to reset the clock

Jan Marini's Age Intervention Regeneration Booster is a six week anti-aging program consisting of six 'one a week' ¼ oz. bottles, with a suggested retail price of $225. The product is part of the Jan Marini's Age Intervention line that already includes a face cream and serum, an eyelash enhancer and a hair conditioner - all designed to fight against the aging process. The California based skin care company is well known for its medically-based skin care therapies using patented formulas and ingredients. This latest product is based on the topical application of telomerase enzyme, incorporating the enzyme with anti-inflammatory agents, specially chosen peptides and other skin enhancing ingredients. The company claim that an independent clinical study has demonstrated significant and lasting improvements in the appearance of lines and wrinkles, elasticity, firmness and general texture of the skin. Telomerase is an enzyme involved in DNA replication, which, under certain circumstances, stops the telomeres from shortening. Shortening telomeres are thought to be involved in the aging process, explaining the interest that the compound has received as a possible anti-aging ingredient. A telomere is the region of highly repetitive DNA at the end of chromosomes that act as a buffer during chromosome replication. Such a buffer is necessary as the replication process cannot reach the ends of the chromosome - if the telomere buffer was not present then vital DNA information would be lost. With each replication the telomeres get slightly shorter except when the telomerase enzyme is activated. However, in adult humans the enzyme is generally not active hence the shortening of the telomeres. The hope is that the topical application of telomerase may help stem the shortening of telomeres and therefore help skin to remain youthful, although little conclusive scientific evidence is available on the effects of lengthening telomeres via telomerase activation on aging in humans. The age Intervention Regeneration Booster is not the only product on the market promising to harness the power of telomerase as an anti-aging compound. For example Revive's Peau Magnifique claims to reset your skin's aging clock by a minimum of five years and costs a mere $1500 for the four week treatment.