Question

what are some potential social and ethical consequences (good, bad or otherwise) associated with the possibility of drugs that might preserve or extend telomere length?

Answer 1

Lengthening telomeres will generally result in a longer lifespan on average. However, lengthened telomeres also can result in an increased risk of cancers like melanoma.

A social consequence of this could be a monopolization of the drugs that lengthen telomeres, thus only making them accessible to certain people.