The ovary’s sensitivity to oxidative stress and telomere shortening plus the need for functional mitochondrial DNA in the oocyte may underlie the process that makes ovarian age a potential window onto cardiovascular risk, the investigators hypothesized.
Previous studies have shown that women with cardiovascular disease tend to be diagnosed later and generally to have a worse prognosis, compared with men, Dr. Cedars said. Using ovarian “age” as a window onto cardiovascular risk might help close that gap, she suggested.
Dr. Cedars reported financial associations with Nora Therapeutics, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, and the founders of Telome Health, a company that measures telomere length.
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