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Mendes-Silva AP, Vieira ELM, Xavier G, Barroso LSS, Bertola L, Martins EAR, Brietzke EM, Belangero SIN, Diniz BS. Telomere shortening in late-life depression: A potential marker of depression severity. Brain Behav 2021; 11:e2255. [PMID: 34152095 PMCID: PMC8413729 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Telomeres are structures at the extremity of chromosomes that prevents genomic instability, and its shortening seems to be a hallmark of cellular aging. Past studies have shown contradictory results of telomere length (TL) in major depression, and are a few studies in late-life depression (LLD). This explores the association between TL as a molecular marker of aging and diagnosis of LLD, the severity of depressive symptoms, and cognitive performance in older adults. METHODS/DESIGN We included 78 older adults (45 with LLD and 33 nondepressed controls, according to DSM-V criteria), aged 60-90 years. TL was measured in leukocytes by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction, determining the relative ratio (T/S) between the telomere region copy number (T) and a single copy gene (S), using a relative standard curve. RESULTS TL was significantly shorter in the LLD compared with control participants (p = .039). Comparing groups through the severity of depressive symptoms, we found a negative correlation with the severity of depressive symptoms (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-21, r = -0.325, p = .004) and medical burden (r = -0.271, p = .038). There was no significant correlation between TL and cognitive performance (Mattis Dementia Rating Scale, r = 0.152, p = .21). CONCLUSIONS We found that older adults with LLD have shorter telomere than healthy controls, especially those with a more severe depressive episode. Our findings suggest that shorter TL can be a marker of the severity of depressive episodes in older adults and indicate that these individuals may be at higher risk of age-associated adverse outcomes linked to depression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gabriela Xavier
- Department of Morphology and Genetics, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,LINC-Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Neurosciences, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucelia Scarabeli Silva Barroso
- Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais School of Medicine, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Laiss Bertola
- Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais School of Medicine, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Efrem Augusto Ribeiro Martins
- Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais School of Medicine, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Elisa Macedo Brietzke
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University School of Medicine, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.,Centre for Neuroscience Studies (CNS), Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sintia Iole Nogueira Belangero
- Department of Morphology and Genetics, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,LINC-Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Neurosciences, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Breno Satler Diniz
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,UConn Center on Aging, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
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2
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Chang X, Chua KY, Wang L, Liu J, Yuan JM, Khor CC, Heng CK, Koh WP, Dorajoo R. Midlife Leukocyte Telomere Length as an Indicator for Handgrip Strength in Late Life. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 76:172-175. [PMID: 33045076 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glaa260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomere attrition has been proposed as a hallmark of aging. We previously reported on the association between blood leukocyte telomere length (LTL) at midlife and risk of chronic diseases and mortality. METHODS In this study, we investigated the effect of midlife LTL and genetic proxies on 5 markers of aging outcomes, namely handgrip strength, timed up-and-go (TUG), Singapore-modified Mini-Mental State Examination (SM-MMSE) scores, anxiety, and depression indices, measured after a median 20-year follow-up in the Singapore Chinese Health Study (N = 9581). RESULTS We observed a significant association between midlife LTL and handgrip strength later in life (p = .004, padjust = .020), as well as a nominal significant association between midlife LTL and TUG later in life (p = .036, padjust = .180). The weighted Genetic Risk Score (wGRS) comprising 15 previously reported LTL reducing loci in East Asians was not significantly associated with handgrip strength. However, results from Structural Equation Modeling showed that the effect of this wGRS on handgrip strength was mediated through LTL (proportion of wGRS effect on handgrip strength mediated through LTL = 33.3%, p = .010). CONCLUSIONS Longer midlife LTL was associated with increased handgrip strength later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuling Chang
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kevin Yiqiang Chua
- NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ling Wang
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Jianjun Liu
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.,Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jian-Min Yuan
- Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Chiea-Chuen Khor
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.,Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore
| | - Chew-Kiat Heng
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Woon-Puay Koh
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rajkumar Dorajoo
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.,Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore, Singapore
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3
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Demanelis K, Tong L, Pierce BL. Genetically Increased Telomere Length and Aging-Related Traits in the U.K. Biobank. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 76:15-22. [PMID: 31603979 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glz240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) shortens over time in most human cell types and is a potential biomarker of aging. However, the causal association of TL on physical and cognitive traits that decline with age has not been extensively examined in middle-aged adults. Using a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, we utilized genetically increased TL (GI-TL) to estimate the impact of TL on aging-related traits among U.K. Biobank (UKB) participants (age 40-69 years). We manually curated 53 aging-related traits from the UKB and restricted to unrelated participants of British ancestry (n = 337,522). We estimated GI-TL as a linear combination of nine TL-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), each weighted by its previously-reported association with leukocyte TL. Regression models were used to assess the associations between GI-TL and each trait. We obtained MR estimates using the two-sample inverse variance weighted (IVW) approach. We identified six age-related traits associated with GI-TL (Bonferroni-corrected threshold p < .001): pulse pressure (PP) (p = 5.2 × 10-14), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p = 2.9 × 10-15), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p = 5.5 × 10-6), hypertension (p = 5.5 × 10-11), forced expiratory volume (FEV1) (p = .0001), and forced vital capacity (FVC) (p = 3.8 × 10-6). Under MR assumptions, one standard deviation increase in TL (~1,200 base pairs) increased PP, SBP, and DBP by 1.5, 2.3, and 0.8 mmHg, respectively, while FEV1 and FVC increased by 34.7 and 52.2 mL, respectively. The observed associations appear unlikely to be due to selection bias based on analyses including inverse probability weights and analyses of simulated data. These findings suggest that longer TL increases pulmonary function and blood pressure traits among middle-aged UKB participants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lin Tong
- Department of Public Health Sciences
| | - Brandon L Pierce
- Department of Public Health Sciences.,Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Illinois.,University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center University of Chicago, University of Chicago, Illinois
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4
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Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Telomere Length in a Random Sample of 5448 U.S. Adults. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13051415. [PMID: 33922436 PMCID: PMC8146059 DOI: 10.3390/nu13051415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and telomere length was examined using a cross-sectional design and an NHANES random sample of 5448 U.S. adults. Fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption was assessed using a 24 h recall, and telomere length, an index of cellular aging, was measured using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction method. Telomere length was linearly related to F&V intake when combined (F = 22.7, p < 0.0001) and also when separated as fruit (F = 7.2, p < 0.0121) or vegetables (F = 15.4, p < 0.0005), after adjusting for covariates. Specifically, telomeres were 27.8 base pairs longer for each 100 g (3.5 ounces) of F&V consumed. Because each additional year of chronological age was associated with telomeres that were 14.9 base pairs shorter, when women and men were analyzed together, results indicated that a 100 g (3.5 oz) per day increment in F&V corresponded with 1.9 years less biological aging. When the 75th percentile of F&V intake was compared to the 25th, the difference was 4.4 years of cellular aging. When separated by sex, fruits and vegetables were both related to telomere length in women, but only vegetable intake was predictive of telomere length in men. In conclusion, evidence based on a random sample of U.S. adults indicates that the more the servings of F&V, the longer telomeres tend to be.
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Manoy P, Yuktanandana P, Tanavalee A, Tanpowpong T, Ittipanichpong T, Honsawek S. Telomere shortening is associated with poor physical performance in knee osteoarthritis. Biomed Rep 2020; 13:27. [PMID: 32765866 PMCID: PMC7403814 DOI: 10.3892/br.2020.1334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere length is a hallmark characteristic of ageing and age-related diseases. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of joint pain and physical disability in the elderly. Previous studies have revealed the role of telomere shortening in OA; however, the relationship between telomere length, muscle strength and physical performance in knee OA patients remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of telomere length and physical performance in patients with knee OA. A total of 202 patients with knee OA and 60 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The quality of life was assessed using Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index and Short Form Health Survey. The skeletal muscle mass was examined using bioelectrical impedance analysis, while the muscle strength was analyzed using hand grip force and isometric knee extension force. The physical performance of patients with knee OA was also investigated using gait speed, Timed up and go test (TUGT), Sit to stand test and 6-min walk test (6MWT). Blood leukocyte relative telomere length (RTL) was assessed using real time quantitative PCR. The mean blood leukocyte RTL in knee OA subjects was significantly lower compared with healthy controls (P<0.001). Knee OA patients with RTL values in the lowest quartile had a slow gait speed (P=0.006) and prolonged TUGT time (P=0.03). Multivariate regression analyses and multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, waist circumference, body mass index, fat mass, skeletal muscle index and the total WOMAC demonstrated that gait speed, TUGT and 6MWT were associated with longer RTL (P-trend<0.05). These findings suggested that poorer physical performance was associated with shorter RTL. Therefore, leukocyte telomere length and physical performance tests, especially gait speed, TUGT and 6MWT, could predict the health status and quality of life in patients with knee OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pacharee Manoy
- Unit of Excellence for Physical Fitness and Exercise, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand
| | - Pongsak Yuktanandana
- Vinai Parkpian Orthopaedic Research Center, Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Aree Tanavalee
- Vinai Parkpian Orthopaedic Research Center, Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Thanathep Tanpowpong
- Vinai Parkpian Orthopaedic Research Center, Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Than Ittipanichpong
- Vinai Parkpian Orthopaedic Research Center, Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Sittisak Honsawek
- Vinai Parkpian Orthopaedic Research Center, Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Department of Biochemistry, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeleton Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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Saccà SC, Vernazza S, Iorio EL, Tirendi S, Bassi AM, Gandolfi S, Izzotti A. Molecular changes in glaucomatous trabecular meshwork. Correlations with retinal ganglion cell death and novel strategies for neuroprotection. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2020; 256:151-188. [PMID: 32958211 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2020.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Glaucoma is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by retinal ganglion cell loss. Although significant advances in ophthalmologic knowledge and practice have been made, some glaucoma mechanisms are not yet understood, therefore, up to now there is no effective treatment able to ensure healing. Indeed, either pharmacological or surgical approaches to this disease aim in lowering intraocular pressure, which is considered the only modifiable risk factor. However, it is well known that several factors and metabolites are equally (if not more) involved in glaucoma. Oxidative stress, for instance, plays a pivotal role in both glaucoma onset and progression because it is responsible for the trabecular meshwork cell damage and, consequently, for intraocular pressure increase as well as for glaucomatous damage cascade. This review at first shows accurately the molecular-derived dysfunctions in antioxidant system and in mitochondria homeostasis which due to both oxidative stress and aging, lead to a chronic inflammation state, the trabecular meshwork damage as well as the glaucoma neurodegeneration. Therefore, the main molecular events triggered by oxidative stress up to the proapoptotic signals that promote the ganglion cell death have been highlighted. The second part of this review, instead, describes some of neuroprotective agents such as polyphenols or polyunsaturated fatty acids as possible therapeutic source against the propagation of glaucomatous damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio C Saccà
- Policlinico San Martino University Hospital, Department of Neuroscience and sense organs, Ophthalmology Unit, Genoa, Italy.
| | | | | | - Sara Tirendi
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), Pisa, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Bassi
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Gandolfi
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Biological, Biotechnological and Translational Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Alberto Izzotti
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Mutagenesis Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
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7
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Nickels M, Mastana S, Hunter D, Denniff M, Codd V, Akam E. The effect of a 12-week resistance training intervention on leukocyte telomere length. Heliyon 2020; 6:e04151. [PMID: 32551387 PMCID: PMC7292922 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere dynamics are an active biological process and positive lifestyle factors such as exercise are proposed to potentiate their length. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a low-resistance, high-repetition resistance training intervention on leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and associated health parameters. 23 sedentary middle-aged adults volunteered for this study (16 female/7 male; age = 51.5 ± 4.9 years) and performed two one-hour sessions of Les Mills BODYPUMP™ per week for 12 weeks. Outcome measures were taken at baseline, after the training intervention and at 12-month follow-up. LTL remained unchanged following the training intervention (pre 0.819 ± 0.121 vs post 0.812 ± 0.114, p = 0.420), despite a borderline significant increase in hTERT expression (p = 0.050). Circulating levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha were reduced after the intervention (p = 0.001). At 12-month follow-up, subjects who returned to a sedentary lifestyle (n = 10) displayed shorter telomeres compared to their pre (p = 0.036) values. In conclusion, no changes were observed in LTL following the 12-week training intervention, despite improvements in molecular parameters associated with telomere dynamics. It appears continued long-term exercise (>12 months) is necessary to preserve LTL in previously sedentary individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt Nickels
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
| | - Sarabjit Mastana
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
| | - David Hunter
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Denniff
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.,NIHR Leicester Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Unit, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, LE3 9QP, United Kingdom
| | - Veryan Codd
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.,NIHR Leicester Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Unit, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, LE3 9QP, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Akam
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
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8
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Nguyen MT, Saffery R, Burgner D, Lycett K, Vryer R, Grobler A, Dwyer T, Ranganathan S, Wake M. Telomere length and lung function in a population-based cohort of children and mid-life adults. Pediatr Pulmonol 2019; 54:2044-2052. [PMID: 31456360 DOI: 10.1002/ppul.24489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Telomere length is associated with poorer lung health in older adults, possibly from cumulative risk factor exposure, but data are lacking in pediatric and population-based cohorts. We examined associations of telomere length with lung function in children and mid-life adults. METHODS Data were drawn from a population-based cross-sectional study of 11 to 12 year-olds and mid-life adults. Lung function was assessed by spirometric FEV1 , FVC, FEV 1 /FVC ratio, and MMEF 25-75 . Telomere length was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction from blood and expressed as the amount of telomeric genomic DNA to the beta-globin gene (T/S ratio). Associations of telomere length with spirometric parameters were tested by linear and logistic regression models, adjusting for potential confounders of sex, age, body mass index, socioeconomic position, physical activity, inflammation, asthma, pubertal status, and smoking. RESULTS Mean T/S ratio was 1.09 (n = 1206; SD 0.55) in children and 0.81 (n = 1343; SD 0.38) in adults. In adults, for every additional unit in T/S ratio, FEV 1 /FVC and MMEF 25-75 z-scores were higher (β 0.21 [95% confidence interval, CI; 0.06-0.36] and 0.23 [95% CI; 0.08-0.38], respectively), and the likelihood of being in the lowest quartile for FEV 1 /FVC and MMEF 25-75 z-scores was lower (odds ratios 0.59 [95% CI, 0.39-0.89] and 0.64 [95% CI, 0.41-0.99], respectively). No evidence of association was seen for adult FEV 1 or FVC, or any childhood spirometric index after adjustments. CONCLUSION Shorter telomere length showed moderate associations with poorer airflow parameters, but not vital capacity (lung volume) in mid-life adults. However, there was no convincing evidence of associations in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minh Thien Nguyen
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Richard Saffery
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David Burgner
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Infectious Diseases, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kate Lycett
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Regan Vryer
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Anneke Grobler
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Terence Dwyer
- George Institute for Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Sarath Ranganathan
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Respiratory Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Melissa Wake
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics and Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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9
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Åström MJ, von Bonsdorff MB, Perälä MM, Salonen MK, Rantanen T, Kajantie E, Simonen M, Pohjolainen P, Haapanen MJ, Guzzardi MA, Iozzo P, Kautiainen H, Eriksson JG. Telomere length and physical performance among older people—The Helsinki Birth Cohort Study. Mech Ageing Dev 2019; 183:111145. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2019.111145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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10
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Brown L, García C, Ailshire J. Does Salivary Telomere Length Explain Race/Ethnic Differences in Aging? BIODEMOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY 2019; 65:351-369. [PMID: 33335644 PMCID: PMC7740300 DOI: 10.1080/19485565.2020.1798736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) is a biomarker that can be used to characterize variability in aging and may explain race/ethnic differences in aging. Yet, it remains unclear if TL is related to aging-associated health risks in multi-ethnic populations or if it explains race/ethnic differences in health. We examine whether salivary TL (STL) explains any of the race/ethnic variability in 15 indicators of high-risk biological, physical and cognitive health among 4,074 white, black, and Latinx older adults ages 54+ in the 2008 Health and Retirement Study. TL was assayed from saliva using quantitative PCR (T/S ratio). Decomposition analyses from logistic regression models show variation in STL does not account for any of the observed race/ethnic differences health. In age-adjusted, race-stratified models, STL was associated with HDL, total cholesterol, and lung function among whites, but was not associated with any markers of health among black or Latinx groups. In this diverse national sample of older adults, STL does not account for race/ethnic differences in late life health, is associated with relatively few indicators of health among whites, and is not associated with indicators of health among black or Latinx groups. STL may not be a useful biomarker for understanding racial/ethnic differences in population aging among older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Brown
- Population Studies Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Catherine García
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Ailshire
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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11
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Shortened leukocyte telomere length is associated with reduced pulmonary function and greater subsequent decline in function in a sample of World Trade Center responders. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8148. [PMID: 31148570 PMCID: PMC6544645 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44625-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine whether shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with more rapid pulmonary function decline in a longitudinal study of World Trade Center (WTC) responders. WTC responders (N = 284) participating in a monitoring study underwent blood sampling and were followed prospectively for spirometric outcomes. A single blood sample was taken to measure LTL using southern blotting. Outcomes included percent-predicted one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1%), forced vital capacity (FVC%), and the FEV1/FVC ratio. In a subset, percent-predicted diffusing capacity (DLCO%) was also measured. Longitudinal modeling examined prospectively collected information over five years since blood was banked was used to examine the rate of change in pulmonary functioning over time. Severity of WTC exposure was assessed. Shorter LTL was associated with lower FEV1% and FVC% at baseline. For example, 29.9% of those with LTL <6.5 kbps had FEV1% <80% whereas only 12.4% of those with LTL ≥6.5 had FEV1% <80% (RR = 2.53, 95%CI = [1.70–3.76]). Lower DLCO% was also significantly associated with shorter LTL. Longitudinal models identified a prospective association between shorter LTL and greater yearly rates of decline in FEV1% (0.46%/year, 95%CI = [0.05–0.87]) and in the FEV1/FVC ratio (0.19%/year, 95%CI = [0.03–0.36]). There were no associations between severity of exposure and either LTL or pulmonary function. Longitudinal analyses revealed that shorter LTL, but not severity of WTC exposures, was associated with poorer pulmonary functioning and with greater subsequent decline in pulmonary functioning over time. These findings are consistent with the idea that shortened LTL may act as a biomarker for enhanced pulmonary vulnerability in the face of acute severe toxic inhalation exposures.
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12
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Brown LL, Zhang YS, Mitchell C, Ailshire J. Does Telomere Length Indicate Biological, Physical, and Cognitive Health Among Older Adults? Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2018; 73:1626-1632. [PMID: 29346517 PMCID: PMC6230208 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/gly001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) has been suggested as a biomarker that can indicate individual variability in the rate of aging. Yet, it remains unclear whether TL is related to recognized indicators of health in an aging, older nationally representative sample. We examine whether TL is associated with 15 biological, physical, and cognitive markers of health among older adults ages 54+. TL was assayed from saliva using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (T/S ratio) in the 2008 Health and Retirement Study (n = 4,074). We estimated probability of high-risk levels across indictors of health by TL and age-singly and jointly. TL was associated with seven indicators of poor functioning: high-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol, cystatin C, pulse pressure, body mass index, lung function, and walking speed. However, after adjusting for age, associations were substantially attenuated; only associations with cholesterol and lung function remained significant. Additionally, findings show TL did not add to the predictive power of chronological age in predicting poor functioning. While TL may not be a useful clinical marker of functional aging in an older adult population, it may still play an important role in longitudinal studies in young and middle aged populations that attempt to understand aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren L Brown
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Yuan S Zhang
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Colter Mitchell
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Jennifer Ailshire
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
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13
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Gielen M, Hageman GJ, Antoniou EE, Nordfjall K, Mangino M, Balasubramanyam M, de Meyer T, Hendricks AE, Giltay EJ, Hunt SC, Nettleton JA, Salpea KD, Diaz VA, Farzaneh-Far R, Atzmon G, Harris SE, Hou L, Gilley D, Hovatta I, Kark JD, Nassar H, Kurz DJ, Mather KA, Willeit P, Zheng YL, Pavanello S, Demerath EW, Rode L, Bunout D, Steptoe A, Boardman L, Marti A, Needham B, Zheng W, Ramsey-Goldman R, Pellatt AJ, Kaprio J, Hofmann JN, Gieger C, Paolisso G, Hjelmborg JBH, Mirabello L, Seeman T, Wong J, van der Harst P, Broer L, Kronenberg F, Kollerits B, Strandberg T, Eisenberg DTA, Duggan C, Verhoeven JE, Schaakxs R, Zannolli R, dos Reis RMR, Charchar FJ, Tomaszewski M, Mons U, Demuth I, Iglesias Molli AE, Cheng G, Krasnienkov D, D'Antono B, Kasielski M, McDonnell BJ, Ebstein RP, Sundquist K, Pare G, Chong M, Zeegers MP. Body mass index is negatively associated with telomere length: a collaborative cross-sectional meta-analysis of 87 observational studies. Am J Clin Nutr 2018; 108:453-475. [PMID: 30535086 PMCID: PMC6454526 DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Even before the onset of age-related diseases, obesity might be a contributing factor to the cumulative burden of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation throughout the life course. Obesity may therefore contribute to accelerated shortening of telomeres. Consequently, obese persons are more likely to have shorter telomeres, but the association between body mass index (BMI) and leukocyte telomere length (TL) might differ across the life span and between ethnicities and sexes. Objective A collaborative cross-sectional meta-analysis of observational studies was conducted to investigate the associations between BMI and TL across the life span. Design Eighty-seven distinct study samples were included in the meta-analysis capturing data from 146,114 individuals. Study-specific age- and sex-adjusted regression coefficients were combined by using a random-effects model in which absolute [base pairs (bp)] and relative telomere to single-copy gene ratio (T/S ratio) TLs were regressed against BMI. Stratified analysis was performed by 3 age categories ("young": 18-60 y; "middle": 61-75 y; and "old": >75 y), sex, and ethnicity. Results Each unit increase in BMI corresponded to a -3.99 bp (95% CI: -5.17, -2.81 bp) difference in TL in the total pooled sample; among young adults, each unit increase in BMI corresponded to a -7.67 bp (95% CI: -10.03, -5.31 bp) difference. Each unit increase in BMI corresponded to a -1.58 × 10(-3) unit T/S ratio (0.16% decrease; 95% CI: -2.14 × 10(-3), -1.01 × 10(-3)) difference in age- and sex-adjusted relative TL in the total pooled sample; among young adults, each unit increase in BMI corresponded to a -2.58 × 10(-3) unit T/S ratio (0.26% decrease; 95% CI: -3.92 × 10(-3), -1.25 × 10(-3)). The associations were predominantly for the white pooled population. No sex differences were observed. Conclusions A higher BMI is associated with shorter telomeres, especially in younger individuals. The presently observed difference is not negligible. Meta-analyses of longitudinal studies evaluating change in body weight alongside change in TL are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marij Gielen
- Departments of Complex Genetics,Address correspondence to MG (e-mail: )
| | - Geja J Hageman
- Toxicology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht University, Netherlands
| | - Evangelia E Antoniou
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Netherlands
| | | | - Massimo Mangino
- Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom,NIHR Biomedical Research Center at Guy's and St. Thomas’ Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Tim de Meyer
- Department of Mathematical Modeling, Statistics, and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Audrey E Hendricks
- Population Sciences Branch of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), NIH, NHLBI's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA,Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Colorado–Denver, Denver, CO
| | - Erik J Giltay
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Steven C Hunt
- Cardiovascular Genetics Division, Department of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Jennifer A Nettleton
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX
| | - Klelia D Salpea
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, BSRC “Alexander Fleming,” Athens, Greece
| | - Vanessa A Diaz
- Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Ramin Farzaneh-Far
- Division of Cardiology, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA
| | - Gil Atzmon
- Department of Medicine and Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, and Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Sarah E Harris
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Cognitive Epidemiology and Medical Genetics Section and Center for Genomics and Experimental Medicine and MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lifang Hou
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - David Gilley
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Iiris Hovatta
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jeremy D Kark
- Epidemiology Unit, Hebrew University–Hadassah School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hisham Nassar
- Department of Cardiology, Hadassah University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - David J Kurz
- Department of Cardiology, Triemli Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Karen A Mather
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, Psychiatry, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Peter Willeit
- Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria, and Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Yun-Ling Zheng
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
| | - Sofia Pavanello
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Sciences, Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Ellen W Demerath
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Line Rode
- The Copenhagen General Population Study, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel Bunout
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrew Steptoe
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa Boardman
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN
| | - Amelia Marti
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science, and Physiology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain,CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Belinda Needham
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Wei Zheng
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | | | | | - Jaakko Kaprio
- Department of Public Health,Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jonathan N Hofmann
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | - Christian Gieger
- Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology and Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Giuseppe Paolisso
- Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic, and Geriatric Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Jacob B H Hjelmborg
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Biodemography, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Lisa Mirabello
- Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic, and Geriatric Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Teresa Seeman
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jason Wong
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
| | - Pim van der Harst
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Linda Broer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Florian Kronenberg
- Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Medical Genetics, Molecular, and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Barbara Kollerits
- Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Medical Genetics, Molecular, and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Timo Strandberg
- University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Center for Life Course Epidemiology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Dan T A Eisenberg
- Department of Anthropology and Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | | | - Josine E Verhoeven
- Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Roxanne Schaakxs
- Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Raffaela Zannolli
- Pediatrics Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Senese/University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, Siena, Italy
| | - Rosana M R dos Reis
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fadi J Charchar
- School of Science and Technology, Federation University Australia, Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, and Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Maciej Tomaszewski
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Biology, and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom,Division of Medicine, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ute Mons
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research,Cancer Prevention Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ilja Demuth
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin (corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Lipid Clinic at the Interdisciplinary Metabolism Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrea Elena Iglesias Molli
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo (INIGEM). Laboratorio de Diabetes y Metabolismo, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guo Cheng
- Department of Nutrition, Food Safety, and Toxicology, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dmytro Krasnienkov
- Department of Epigenetics, DF Chebotarev State Institute of Gerontology NAMS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Bianca D'Antono
- Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, and Psychology Department, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marek Kasielski
- Bases of Clinical Medicine Teaching Center, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Barry J McDonnell
- Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | | | - Kristina Sundquist
- Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden
| | - Guillaume Pare
- Population Health Research Institute and McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Michael Chong
- Population Health Research Institute and McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Maurice P Zeegers
- Departments of Complex Genetics,CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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The association of sarcopenia, telomere length, and mortality: data from the NHANES 1999-2002. Eur J Clin Nutr 2017; 72:255-263. [PMID: 29238037 PMCID: PMC5809180 DOI: 10.1038/s41430-017-0011-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2017] [Revised: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background Sarcopenia is defined as the loss of muscle mass or function with aging and is associated with adverse outcomes. Telomere shortening is associated with mortality, yet its relationship with sarcopenia is unknown. Methods Adults ≥60 years from the 1999–2002 NHANES with body composition measures were identified. Sarcopenia was defined using the two Foundation for the National Institute of Health definitions: appendicular lean mass (ALM) (men<19.75; women<15.02kg); or ALM divided by body mass index (BMI) (ALM:BMI, men<0.789; women<0.512). Telomere length was assessed using quantitative PCR. Regression models predicted telomere length with sarcopenia (referent=no sarcopenia). Results We identified 2,672 subjects. Mean age was 70.9 years (55.5% female). Prevalence of ALM and ALM:BMI sarcopenia was 29.2 and 22.1%. Deaths were higher in persons with sarcopenia as compared to those without sarcopenia (ALM: 46.4 vs. 33.4%; p<0.001; ALM:BMI: 46.7 vs.33.2%; p<0.001). No adjusted differences were observed in telomere length in those with/without sarcopenia (ALM: 0.90 vs. 0.92; p=0.74, ALM:BMI 0.89 vs. 0.92; p=0.24). In men with ALM:BMI defined sarcopenia, adjusted telomere length was significantly lower compared to men without sarcopenia (0.85 vs 0.91, p=0.013). With sarcopenia, we did not observe a significant association between telomere length and mortality (ALM: HR 1.11 [0.64, 1.82], p=0.68; ALM:BMI: HR 0.97 [0.53,1.77], p=0.91), but noted significance in those without sarcopenia with mortality (ALM: HR 0.59 [0.40, 0.86], p=0.007; ALM:BMI: HR 0.62 [0.42, 0.91]; p=0.01). Conclusions We observed a potentially inverse relationship between telomere length and mortality in those without sarcopenia but did not observe a significant relationship between telomere length and mortality in the presence of sarcopenia.
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15
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Telomeres, Aging and Exercise: Guilty by Association? Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18122573. [PMID: 29186077 PMCID: PMC5751176 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18122573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Revised: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are repetitive tandem DNA sequences that cap chromosomal ends protecting genomic DNA from enzymatic degradation. Telomeres progressively shorten with cellular replication and are therefore assumed to correlate with biological and chronological age. An expanding body of evidence suggests (i) a predictable inverse association between telomere length, aging and age-related diseases and (ii) a positive association between physical activity and telomere length. Both hypotheses have garnered tremendous research attention and broad consensus; however, the evidence for each proposition is inconsistent and equivocal at best. Telomere length does not meet the basic criteria for an aging biomarker and at least 50% of key studies fail to find associations with physical activity. In this review, we address the evidence in support and refutation of the putative associations between telomere length, aging and physical activity. We finish with a brief review of plausible mechanisms and potential future research directions.
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16
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Identification of Neuroprotective Factors Associated with Successful Ageing and Risk of Cognitive Impairment among Malaysia Older Adults. Curr Gerontol Geriatr Res 2017; 2017:4218756. [PMID: 29109736 PMCID: PMC5646302 DOI: 10.1155/2017/4218756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The increase of ageing population has raised public attention on the concept of successful ageing. Studies have shown that vitamin D, telomere length, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have been associated with cognitive function. Therefore, this study aimed to identify neuroprotective factors for cognitive decline in different ageing groups. A total of 300 older adults aged 60 years and above were recruited in this population based cross-sectional study. Participants were categorized into three groups: mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n = 100), usual ageing (UA) (n = 100), and successful ageing (SA) (n = 100). Dietary vitamin D intake was assessed through Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ). Out of the 300 participants, only 150 were subjected to fasting blood sample collection. These samples were used for serum vitamin D and plasma BDNF measurements. Whole blood telomere length was measured using RT-PCR method. The results show that the reduction of the risk of MCI was achieved by higher serum vitamin D level (OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.92–0.99, p < 0.05), higher plasma BDNF level (OR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.30–0.88, p < 0.05), and longer telomere (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95–0.99, p < 0.001). In conclusion, participants with higher vitamin D level, higher BDNF level, and longer telomere length were more likely to age successfully.
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17
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Tarry-Adkins JL, Ozanne SE. Nutrition in early life and age-associated diseases. Ageing Res Rev 2017; 39:96-105. [PMID: 27594376 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2016.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Revised: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of age-associated disease is increasing at a striking rate globally. It is known that a strong association exists between a suboptimal maternal and/or early-life environment and increased propensity of developing age-associated disease, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), type-2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. The dissection of underlying molecular mechanisms to explain this phenomenon, which is known as 'developmental programming' is still emerging; however three common mechanisms have emerged in many models of developmental programming. These mechanisms are (a) changes in tissue structure, (b) epigenetic regulation and (c) accelerated cellular ageing. This review will examine the epidemiological evidence and the animal models of suboptimal maternal environments, focusing upon these molecular mechanisms and will discuss the progress being made in the development of safe and effective intervention strategies which ultimately could target those 'programmed' individuals who are known to be at-risk of age-associated disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane L Tarry-Adkins
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Level 4, Box 289, Addenbrooke's Treatment Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 OQQ, UK.
| | - Susan E Ozanne
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Level 4, Box 289, Addenbrooke's Treatment Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 OQQ, UK.
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18
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Williams DM, Buxton JL, Kantomaa MT, Tammelin TH, Blakemore AIF, Järvelin MR. Associations of Leukocyte Telomere Length With Aerobic and Muscular Fitness in Young Adults. Am J Epidemiol 2017; 185:529-537. [PMID: 28338837 PMCID: PMC5860435 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kww123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Decline in both telomere length and physical fitness over the life course may contribute to increased risk of several chronic diseases. The relationship between telomere length and aerobic and muscular fitness is not well characterized. We examined whether there are cross-sectional associations of mean relative leukocyte telomere length (LTL) with objective measures of aerobic fitness, muscle strength, and muscle endurance, using data on 31-year-old participants of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (n = 4,952–5,205, varying by exposure-outcome analysis). Aerobic fitness was assessed by means of heart rate measurement following a standardized submaximal step test; muscular fitness was assessed by means of a maximal isometric handgrip strength test and a test of lower-back trunk muscle endurance. Longer LTL was associated with higher aerobic fitness and better trunk muscle endurance in models including adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, socioeconomic position, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity level, and C-reactive protein. In a sex-stratified analysis, LTL was not associated with handgrip strength in either men or women. LTL may relate to aspects of physical fitness in young adulthood, but replication of these findings is required, along with further studies to help assess directions and causality in these associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan M. Williams
- Correspondence to Dr. Dylan M. Williams, Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, P.O. Box 281, SE 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden (e-mail: )
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19
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Milte CM, Russell AP, Ball K, Crawford D, Salmon J, McNaughton SA. Diet quality and telomere length in older Australian men and women. Eur J Nutr 2016; 57:363-372. [PMID: 27785566 PMCID: PMC5847066 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-016-1326-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Telomere length is a biomarker of cellular ageing, with longer telomeres associated with longevity and reduced risk of chronic disease in older age. Consumption of a healthy diet may contribute to longevity via its impact on cellular ageing, but studies on diet and telomere length to date have been limited and their findings equivocal. The aim of this study was to examine associations between three indices of diet quality and telomere length in older men and women. METHODS Adults aged 57-68 years participating in the Wellbeing, Eating and Exercise for a Long Life (WELL) study in Victoria, Australia (n = 679), completed a postal survey including an 111-item food frequency questionnaire in 2012. Diet quality was assessed via three indices: the Dietary Guideline Index, the Recommended Food Score, and the Mediterranean Diet Score. Relative telomere length was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Associations between diet quality and telomere length were assessed using linear regression adjusted for covariates. RESULTS After adjustment for age, sex, education, smoking, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI), there were no significant associations between diet quality and relative telomere length. CONCLUSIONS In a sample of older adults residing in Victoria, Australia, men and women aged 57-68 years with better-quality diets did not have longer telomeres. Further investigation in longitudinal studies will determine whether diet can influence telomere length over time in an ageing population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine M Milte
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
| | - Aaron P Russell
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Kylie Ball
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - David Crawford
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Jo Salmon
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Sarah A McNaughton
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
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Viña J, Tarazona-Santabalbina FJ, Pérez-Ros P, Martínez-Arnau FM, Borras C, Olaso-Gonzalez G, Salvador-Pascual A, Gomez-Cabrera MC. Biology of frailty: Modulation of ageing genes and its importance to prevent age-associated loss of function. Mol Aspects Med 2016; 50:88-108. [PMID: 27164416 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2016.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Frailty is associated with loss of functional reserve as well as with the prediction of adverse events in the old population. The traditional criteria of frailty are based on five physical determinations described in the Cardiovascular Health Study. We propose that biological and genetic markers of frailty should be used to increase the predictive capacity of the established clinical indeces. In recent times, research for biological markers of frailty has gained impetus. Finding a biological markers with diagnostic and prognostic capacity would be a major milestone to identify frailty risk, and also pre-frailty status. In the first section of the manuscript, we review the available biomarkers that help to monitor and prevent the evolution and the efficacy of interventions to delay the onset of frailty and to prevent its progression to incapacity. We also discuss the contribution of genetics to frailty. There are scientific bases that support that genetics influences frailty, although environmental factors probably will have the highest contribution. We review the known SNPs of the genes associated with frailty and classify them, taking into account the pathway in which they are involved. We also highlight the importance of longevity genes and their possible relation with frailty, citing centenarians who reach a very old age as an example of successful ageing. Finally, the reversibility of frailty is discussed. It can potentially be treated with nutritional or pharmacological interventions. However, physical exercise seems to be the most effective strategy to treat and prevent frailty. The last section of the manuscript is devoted to explaining the recommendations on the appropriate design of an exercise protocol to maximize its beneficial effects in a population of frail individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Viña
- Department of Physiology, Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario/INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Pilar Pérez-Ros
- School of Nursing, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Spain
| | | | - Consuelo Borras
- Department of Physiology, Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario/INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Spain
| | - Gloria Olaso-Gonzalez
- Department of Physiology, Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario/INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Spain
| | - Andrea Salvador-Pascual
- Department of Physiology, Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario/INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Spain
| | - Mari Carmen Gomez-Cabrera
- Department of Physiology, Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario/INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Spain.
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Meyer A, Salewsky B, Spira D, Steinhagen-Thiessen E, Norman K, Demuth I. Leukocyte telomere length is related to appendicular lean mass: cross-sectional data from the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II). Am J Clin Nutr 2016; 103:178-83. [PMID: 26675777 DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.115.116806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Age-related progressive loss of muscle mass is an increasing problem in our aging society, affecting physical ability, risk of falls, and need for health care. Telomere length has been recognized as a marker of biological age on the population level. The relation between muscle mass in advanced age and telomere length, however, has rarely been examined. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the relation between appendicular lean mass (ALM) and relative leukocyte telomere length (rLTL) in 1398 participants of the Berlin Aging Study II (mean ± SD age: 68.2 ± 3.7 y; 49.6% men). DESIGN rLTL was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Lean mass was estimated by dual X-ray absorptiometry and examined as leg lean mass (LLM), ALM, and the ratio of ALM to body mass index (ALMBMI). RESULTS Weak, but highly significant (P < 0.001), correlations of rLTL with ALM (r = 0.248), ALMBMI (r = 0.254), and LLM (r = 0.263) were found. In the fully adjusted model that included age, BMI, low-grade inflammation, lifestyle factors, and morbidities as potential confounders, rLTL was associated with ALM (β = 1.11, SEM = 0.46, P = 0.017), LLM (β = 1.20, SEM = 0.36, P = 0.001), and ALMBMI (β = 0.04, SEM = 0.02, P = 0.013) in men and with LLM in women (β = 0.78, SEM = 0.35, P = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that short telomeres may be a risk factor for lower ALM, particularly for low LLM. To confirm the association between telomere attrition and loss of LLM and ALMBMI, which are highly relevant for physical ability, further research in a longitudinal context is needed. The medical portion of this trial was registered in the German Clinical Trials Registry (http://drks-neu.uniklinik-freiburg.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=start) as DRKS00009277.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bastian Salewsky
- Charité Research Group on Geriatrics and Institute of Medical and Human Genetics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Saum KU, Dieffenbach AK, Müezzinler A, Müller H, Holleczek B, Stegmaier C, Butterbach K, Schick M, Canzian F, Stammer H, Boukamp P, Hauer K, Brenner H. Frailty and telomere length: Cross-sectional analysis in 3537 older adults from the ESTHER cohort. Exp Gerontol 2014; 58:250-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2014.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Revised: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 08/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Woo J, Yu R, Tang N, Leung J. Telomere length is associated with decline in grip strength in older persons aged 65 years and over. AGE (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2014; 36:9711. [PMID: 25182538 PMCID: PMC4453941 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-014-9711-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Accepted: 08/25/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) attrition is associated with chronic diseases characterized by chronic inflammatory states. Inflammatory cytokines may play a role in sarcopenia. This study examines the association between TL and the diagnosis of sarcopenia based on appendicular skeletal mass index (ASMI), grip strength, walking speed, and chair stand in a prospective study over 5 years of 976 men and 1,030 women aged 65 years and over living in the community. TL in leukocytes was measured using the quantitative PCR method. TL was divided into quartiles, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was adopted to examine its association with components of sarcopenia, adjusting for age, education, body mass index, smoking, physical activity, and probable dementia. In both men and women, the percentage decline in grip strength over the 5-year period of follow-up was slower in those in the highest quartile of TL than those in the lower quartiles (multivariate-adjusted p < 0.05). No association between TL and the diagnosis of sarcopenia, ASMI, walking speed, or chair stand was observed. In conclusion, longer TL was associated with slower decline in grip strength in Chinese older persons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Woo
- Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China,
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Baylis D, Ntani G, Edwards MH, Syddall HE, Bartlett DB, Dennison EM, Martin-Ruiz C, von Zglinicki T, Kuh D, Lord JM, Aihie Sayer A, Cooper C. Inflammation, telomere length, and grip strength: a 10-year longitudinal study. Calcif Tissue Int 2014; 95:54-63. [PMID: 24858709 PMCID: PMC4098723 DOI: 10.1007/s00223-014-9862-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Telomere attrition has been associated with age-related diseases, although causality is unclear and controversial; low-grade systemic inflammation (inflammaging) has also been implicated in age-related pathogenesis. Unpicking the relationship between aging, telomere length (TL), and inflammaging is hence essential to the understanding of aging and management of age-related diseases. This longitudinal study explored whether telomere attrition is a cause or consequence of aging and whether inflammaging explains some of the associations between TL and one marker of aging, grip strength. We studied 253 Hertfordshire Ageing Study participants at baseline and 10-year follow-up (mean age at baseline 67.1 years). Participants completed a health questionnaire and had blood samples collected for immune-endocrine and telomere analysis at both time points. Physical aging was characterized at follow-up using grip strength. Faster telomere attrition was associated with lower grip strength at follow-up (β = 0.98, p = 0.035). This association was completely attenuated when adjusted for inflammaging burden (p = 0.86) over the same period. Similarly, greater inflammaging burden was associated with lower grip strength at follow-up (e.g., interleukin [IL]-1β: β = -2.18, p = 0.001). However, these associations were maintained when adjusted for telomere attrition (IL-1β, p = 0.006). We present evidence that inflammaging may be driving telomere attrition and in part explains the associations that have previously been reported between TL and grip strength. Thus, biomarkers of physical aging, such as inflammaging, may require greater exploration. Further work is now indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Baylis
- MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
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Zhang WG, Zhu SY, Bai XJ, Zhao DL, Jiang SM, Li J, Li ZX, Fu B, Cai GY, Sun XF, Chen XM. Select aging biomarkers based on telomere length and chronological age to build a biological age equation. AGE (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2014; 36:9639. [PMID: 24659482 PMCID: PMC4082565 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-014-9639-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2013] [Accepted: 03/04/2014] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to build a biological age (BA) equation combining telomere length with chronological age (CA) and associated aging biomarkers. In total, 139 healthy volunteers were recruited from a Chinese Han cohort in Beijing. A genetic index, renal function indices, cardiovascular function indices, brain function indices, and oxidative stress and inflammation indices (C-reactive protein [CRP]) were measured and analyzed. A BA equation was proposed based on selected parameters, with terminal telomere restriction fragment (TRF) and CA as the two principal components. The selected aging markers included mitral annulus peak E anterior wall (MVEA), intima-media thickness (IMT), cystatin C (CYSC), D-dimer (DD), and digital symbol test (DST). The BA equation was: BA = −2.281TRF + 26.321CYSC + 0.025DD − 104.419MVEA + 34.863IMT − 0.265DST + 0.305CA + 26.346. To conclude, telomere length and CA as double benchmarks may be a new method to build a BA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Guang Zhang
- />Department of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases (2011DAV00088), State Chronic Kidney Disease Clinical Research Center (2013BAI09B05), Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853 China
| | - Shu-Ying Zhu
- />Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiao-Juan Bai
- />Departments of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - De-Long Zhao
- />Department of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases (2011DAV00088), State Chronic Kidney Disease Clinical Research Center (2013BAI09B05), Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853 China
| | - Shi-Min Jiang
- />Department of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases (2011DAV00088), State Chronic Kidney Disease Clinical Research Center (2013BAI09B05), Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853 China
| | - Juan Li
- />Department of Cardiovascular, Chinese PLA General Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Zuo-Xiang Li
- />Department of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases (2011DAV00088), State Chronic Kidney Disease Clinical Research Center (2013BAI09B05), Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853 China
| | - Bo Fu
- />Department of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases (2011DAV00088), State Chronic Kidney Disease Clinical Research Center (2013BAI09B05), Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853 China
| | - Guang-Yan Cai
- />Department of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases (2011DAV00088), State Chronic Kidney Disease Clinical Research Center (2013BAI09B05), Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853 China
| | - Xue-Feng Sun
- />Department of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases (2011DAV00088), State Chronic Kidney Disease Clinical Research Center (2013BAI09B05), Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853 China
| | - Xiang-Mei Chen
- />Department of Nephrology, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases (2011DAV00088), State Chronic Kidney Disease Clinical Research Center (2013BAI09B05), Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853 China
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Rehkopf DH, Dow WH, Rosero-Bixby L, Lin J, Epel ES, Blackburn EH. Seasonal variation of peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length in Costa Rica: A population-based observational study. Am J Hum Biol 2014; 26:367-75. [PMID: 24615938 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2013] [Revised: 01/29/2014] [Accepted: 02/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is increasingly being used as a biomarker of aging, but its natural variation in human populations is not well understood. Several other biomarkers show seasonal variation, as do several determinants of LTL. We examined whether there was monthly variation in LTL in Costa Rica, a country with strong seasonal differences in precipitation and infection. METHODS We examined a longitudinal population-based cohort of 581 Costa Rican adults age 60 and above, from which blood samples were drawn between October 2006 and July 2008. LTL was assayed from these samples using the quantitative PCR method. Multivariate regression models were used to examine correlations between month of blood draw and LTL. RESULTS Telomere length from peripheral blood leukocytes varied by as much as 200 base pairs depending on month of blood draw, and this difference is not likely to be due to random variation. A moderate proportion of this association is statistically accounted for by month and region specific average rainfall. We found shorter telomere length associated with greater rainfall. CONCLUSIONS There are two possible explanations of our findings. First, there could be relatively rapid month-to-month changes in LTL. This conclusion would have implications for understanding the natural population dynamics of telomere length. Second, there could be seasonal differences in constituent cell populations. This conclusion would suggest that future studies of LTL use methods to account for the potential impact of constituent cell type.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Rehkopf
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, 94305
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27
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Gardner MP, Martin-Ruiz C, Cooper R, Hardy R, Sayer AA, Cooper C, Deary IJ, Gallacher J, Harris SE, Shiels PG, Starr JM, Kuh D, von Zglinicki T, Ben-Shlomo Y. Telomere length and physical performance at older ages: an individual participant meta-analysis. PLoS One 2013; 8:e69526. [PMID: 23922731 PMCID: PMC3724915 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2013] [Accepted: 06/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomeres are involved in cellular ageing and shorten with increasing age. If telomere length is a valuable biomarker of ageing, then telomere shortening should be associated with worse physical performance, an ageing trait, but evidence for such an association is lacking. The purpose of this study was to examine whether change in telomere length is associated with physical performance. METHODS Using data from four UK adult cohorts (ages 53-80 years at baseline), we undertook cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. We analysed each study separately and then used meta-analytic methods to pool the results. Physical performance was measured using walking and chair rise speed, standing balance time and grip strength. Telomere length was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in whole blood at baseline and follow-up (time 1, time 2). RESULTS Total sample sizes in meta-analyses ranged from 1,217 to 3,707. There was little evidence that telomere length was associated with walking speed, balance or grip strength, though weak associations were seen with chair rise speed and grip strength at baseline (p = 0.02 and 0.01 respectively). Faster chair rise speed at follow-up, was associated with a smaller decline in telomere length between time 1 and time 2 (standardised coefficient per SD increase 0.061, 95% CI 0.006, 0.115, p = 0.03) but this was consistent with chance (p =0.08) after further adjustment. CONCLUSIONS Whereas shortening of leukocyte telomeres might be an important measure of cellular ageing, there is little evidence that it is a strong biomarker for physical performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P. Gardner
- School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Carmen Martin-Ruiz
- Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Cooper
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Hardy
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Avan Aihie Sayer
- Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Cyrus Cooper
- Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Ian J. Deary
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - John Gallacher
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E. Harris
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Medical Genetics Section, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Paul G. Shiels
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - John M. Starr
- Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Diana Kuh
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas von Zglinicki
- Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Yoav Ben-Shlomo
- School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Bristol, United Kingdom
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Axelrad MD, Budagov T, Atzmon G. Telomere length and telomerase activity; a Yin and Yang of cell senescence. J Vis Exp 2013:e50246. [PMID: 23728273 DOI: 10.3791/50246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are repeating DNA sequences at the tip ends of the chromosomes that are diverse in length and in humans can reach a length of 15,000 base pairs. The telomere serves as a bioprotective mechanism of chromosome attrition at each cell division. At a certain length, telomeres become too short to allow replication, a process that may lead to chromosome instability or cell death. Telomere length is regulated by two opposing mechanisms: attrition and elongation. Attrition occurs as each cell divides. In contrast, elongation is partially modulated by the enzyme telomerase, which adds repeating sequences to the ends of the chromosomes. In this way, telomerase could possibly reverse an aging mechanism and rejuvenates cell viability. These are crucial elements in maintaining cell life and are used to assess cellular aging. In this manuscript we will describe an accurate, short, sophisticated and cheap method to assess telomere length in multiple tissues and species. This method takes advantage of two key elements, the tandem repeat of the telomere sequence and the sensitivity of the qRT-PCR to detect differential copy numbers of tested samples. In addition, we will describe a simple assay to assess telomerase activity as a complementary backbone test for telomere length.
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29
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Sanders JL, Newman AB. Telomere length in epidemiology: a biomarker of aging, age-related disease, both, or neither? Epidemiol Rev 2013; 35:112-31. [PMID: 23302541 DOI: 10.1093/epirev/mxs008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 381] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/24/2012] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are nucleoprotein caps flanking DNA. They are shortened by cell division and oxidative stress and are lengthened by the enzyme telomerase and DNA exchange during mitosis. Short telomeres induce cellular senescence. As an indicator of oxidative stress and senescence (2 processes thought to be fundamental to aging), telomere length is hypothesized to be a biomarker of aging. This hypothesis has been tested for more than a decade with epidemiologic study methods. In cross-sectional studies, researchers have investigated whether leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with demographic, behavioral, and health variables. In prospective studies, baseline LTL has been used to predict mortality and occasionally other adverse health outcomes. Conflicting data have generated heated debate about the value of LTL as a biomarker of overall aging. In this review, we address the epidemiologic data on LTL and demonstrate that shorter LTL is associated with older age, male gender, Caucasian race, and possibly atherosclerosis; associations with other markers of health are equivocal. We discuss the reasons for discrepancy across studies, including a detailed review of methods for measuring telomere length as they apply to epidemiology. Finally, we conclude with questions about LTL as a biomarker of aging and how epidemiology can be used to answer these questions.
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30
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Der G, Batty GD, Benzeval M, Deary IJ, Green MJ, McGlynn L, McIntyre A, Robertson T, Shiels PG. Is telomere length a biomarker for aging: cross-sectional evidence from the west of Scotland? PLoS One 2012; 7:e45166. [PMID: 23028820 PMCID: PMC3454419 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2012] [Accepted: 08/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The search for biomarkers of aging (BoAs) has been largely unsuccessful to-date and there is widespread skepticism about the prospects of finding any that satisfy the criteria developed by the American Federation of Aging Research. This may be because the criteria are too strict or because a composite measure might be more appropriate. Telomere length has attracted a great deal of attention as a candidate BoA. We investigate whether it meets the criteria to be considered as a single biomarker of aging, and whether it makes a useful contribution to a composite measure. Methodology/Principal Findings Using data from a large population based study, we show that telomere length is associated with age, with several measures of physical and cognitive functioning that are related to normal aging, and with three measures of overall health. In the majority of cases, telomere length adds predictive power to that of age, although it was not nearly as good a predictor overall. We used principal components analysis to form two composites from the measures of functioning, one including telomere length and the other not including it. These composite BoAs were better predictors of the health outcomes than chronological age. There was little difference between the two composites. Conclusions Telomere length does not satisfy the strict criteria for a BoA, but does add predictive power to that of chronological age. Equivocal results from previous studies might be due to lack of power or the choice of measures examined together with a focus on single biomarkers. Composite biomarkers of aging have the potential to outperform age and should be considered for future research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoff Der
- Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, Medical Research Council, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
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Dapp U, Anders J, von Renteln-Kruse W, Golgert S, Meier-Baumgartner HP, Minder CE. The Longitudinal Urban Cohort Ageing Study (LUCAS): study protocol and participation in the first decade. BMC Geriatr 2012; 12:35. [PMID: 22776679 PMCID: PMC3674861 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2318-12-35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2012] [Accepted: 07/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We present concept, study protocol and selected baseline data of the
Longitudinal Urban Cohort Ageing Study (LUCAS) in Germany. LUCAS is a
long-running cohort study of community-dwelling seniors complemented by
specific studies of geriatric patients or diseases. Aims were to (1)
Describe individual ageing trajectories in a metropolitan setting,
documenting changes in functional status, the onset of frailty, disability
and need of care; (2) Find determinants of healthy ageing; (3) Assess
long-term effects of specific health promotion interventions; (4) Produce
results for health care planning for fit, pre-frail, frail and disabled
elderly persons; (5) Set up a framework for embedded studies to investigate
various hypotheses in specific subgroups of elderly. Methods/Design In 2000, twenty-one general practitioners (GPs) were recruited in the Hamburg
metropolitan area; they generated lists of all their patients 60 years
and older. Persons not terminally ill, without daily need of assistance or
professional care were eligible. Of these, n = 3,326
(48 %) agreed to participate and completed a small (baseline) and an
extensive health questionnaire (wave 1). In 2007/2008, a re-recruitment took
place including 2,012 participants: 743 men, 1,269 women (647 deaths, 197
losses, 470 declined further participation). In 2009/2010
n = 1,627 returned the questionnaire (90 deaths, 47 losses, 248
declined further participation) resulting in a good participation rate over
ten years with limited and quantified dropouts. Presently, follow-up data
from 2007/2008 (wave 2) and 2009/2010 (wave 3) are available. Data wave 4 is
due in 2011/2012, and the project will be continued until 2013. Information
on survival and need of nursing care was collected continuously and
cross-checked against official records. We used Fisher’s exact test
and t-tests. The study served repeatedly to evaluate health promotion
interventions and concepts. Discussion LUCAS shows that a cohort study of older persons is feasible and can maintain
a good participation rate over ten years, even when extensive self-reported
health data are collected repeatedly through self-filled questionnaires.
Evidently individual health developments of elderly persons can be tracked
quantifying simultaneously behaviour, co-morbidity, functional competence
and their changes. In future, we expect to generate results of significance
about the five study aims listed above.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Dapp
- Albertinen-Haus Geriatrics Centre, Scientific Department at the University of Hamburg, Sellhopsweg 18-22, D-22459, Hamburg, Germany.
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Deckx L, van Abbema D, Nelissen K, Daniels L, Stinissen P, Bulens P, Linsen L, Rummens JL, Robaeys G, de Jonge ET, Houben B, Pat K, Walgraeve D, Spaas L, Verheezen J, Verniest T, Goegebuer A, Wildiers H, van den Berkmortel F, Tjan-Heijnen VC, Buntinx F, van den Akker M. Study protocol of KLIMOP: a cohort study on the wellbeing of older cancer patients in Belgium and the Netherlands. BMC Public Health 2011; 11:825. [PMID: 22026575 PMCID: PMC3215168 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2011] [Accepted: 10/25/2011] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer is mainly a disease of older patients. In older cancer patients, additional endpoints such as quality of survival and daily functioning might be considered equally relevant as overall or disease free survival. However, these factors have been understudied using prospective designs focussing on older cancer patients. Therefore, this study will focus on the impact of cancer, ageing, and their interaction on the long-term wellbeing of older cancer patients. Methods/Design This study is an observational cohort study. We aim to recruit 720 cancer patients above 70 years with a new diagnosis of breast, prostate, lung or gastrointestinal cancer and two control groups: one control group of 720 patients above 70 years without a previous diagnosis of cancer and one control group of 720 cancer patients between 50 - 69 years newly diagnosed with breast, prostate, lung or gastrointestinal cancer. Data collection will take place at inclusion, after six months, after one year and every subsequent year until death or end of the study. Data will be collected through personal interviews (consisting of socio-demographic information, general health information, a comprehensive geriatric assessment, quality of life, health locus of control and a loneliness scale), a handgrip test, assessment of medical records, two buccal swabs and a blood sample from cancer patients (at baseline). As an annex study, caregivers of the participants will be recruited as well. Data collection for caregivers will consist of a self-administered questionnaire examining depression, coping, and burden. Discussion This extensive data collection will increase insight on how wellbeing of older cancer patients is affected by cancer (diagnosis and treatment), ageing, and their interaction. Results may provide new insights, which might contribute to the improvement of care for older cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Deckx
- Department of General Practice, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33, bus 7001, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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Bendix L, Gade MM, Staun PW, Kimura M, Jeune B, Hjelmborg JVB, Aviv A, Christensen K. Leukocyte telomere length and physical ability among Danish twins age 70+. Mech Ageing Dev 2011; 132:568-72. [PMID: 22019938 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2011.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2011] [Revised: 09/26/2011] [Accepted: 10/07/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) shortens with age and is potentially a biomarker of human aging. We examined the relation of LTL with physical ability and cognitive function in 548 same-sex twins from the Longitudinal Study of Aging Danish Twins. LTL was measured by Southern blots of the terminal restriction fragments (TRF). Physical ability was evaluated using a self reported scale of 11 questions, while cognitive function was scored by MMSE and a cognitive composite score sensitive to age-related decline. A random intercept model revealed a positive, significant association between LTL and physical ability. For every unit increase in physical ability score, LTL increased by 0.066 kb (p = 0.01), equal to approximately three years of age-dependent LTL shortening. A matched case-co-twin design showed that the group consisting of the twins from each pair with the longer LTL also displayed better physical ability (p < 0.01). Moreover, the intra-pair difference in LTL was associated with intra-pair difference in physical ability (p < 0.01), confirming the association. However, we found no association between cognitive function and LTL. The LTL-physical ability association in the elderly provides further support to the premise that LTL is an index of somatic fitness in the narrow context of human physical health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laila Bendix
- Danish Aging Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, JB Winslowsvej 9B, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark.
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Smith DL, Mattison JA, Desmond RA, Gardner JP, Kimura M, Roth GS, Ingram DK, Allison DB, Aviv A. Telomere dynamics in rhesus monkeys: no apparent effect of caloric restriction. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2011; 66:1163-8. [PMID: 21860014 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glr136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of telomere attrition in limiting the replicative capacity of cells in culture is well established. In humans, epidemiologic evidence suggests telomere length (TL) in leukocytes is highly variable at birth and inversely related to age. Although calorie restriction (CR) significantly increases life span in most rodent models, its association with TL is unknown. Using linear regression analysis, TLs (as measured by Southern blot analysis) of skeletal muscle (a postmitotic tissue that largely represents early development TL), fat, leukocytes, and skin were tested for effects of age, sex, and diet in 48 control and 23 calorie restriction rhesus monkeys. After controlling for the individual's muscle mean TL, differences between leukocytes muscle and skin muscle were significantly associated with age (p = .002; p = .002) and sex (p = .003; p = .042), but not calorie restriction (p = .884; p = .766). Despite an age-dependent shortening of TL in leukocytes and skin, calorie restriction did not significantly affect TL dynamics in these samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Smith
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Main Campus, Birmingham, AL 35294-3360, USA.
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Fitzpatrick AL, Kronmal RA, Kimura M, Gardner JP, Psaty BM, Jenny NS, Tracy RP, Hardikar S, Aviv A. Leukocyte telomere length and mortality in the Cardiovascular Health Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2011; 66:421-9. [PMID: 21289018 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glq224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is related to diseases of aging, but studies of mortality have been inconsistent. METHODS We evaluated LTL in relation to total mortality and specific cause of death in 1,136 participants of the Cardiovascular Health Study who provided blood samples in 1992-1993 and survived through 1997-1998. LTL was measured by Southern blots of the terminal restriction fragments. Cause of death was classified by a committee of physicians reviewing death certificates, medical records, and informant interviews. RESULTS A total of 468 (41.2%) deaths occurred over 6.1 years of follow-up in participants with mean age of 73.9 years (SD 4.7), 65.4% female, and 14.8% African American. Although increased age and male gender were associated with shorter LTLs, African Americans had significantly longer LTLs independent of age and sex (p < .001). Adjusted for age, sex, and race, persons with the shortest quartile of LTL were 60% more likely to die during follow-up than those within the longest quartile (hazard ratio: 1.61, 95% confidence interval: 1.22-2.12, p = .001). The association remained after adjustment for cardiovascular disease risk factors. Evaluations of cause of death found LTL to be related to deaths due to an infectious disease etiology (hazard ratio: 2.80, 95% confidence interval: 1.32-5.94, p = .007), whereas a borderline association was found for cardiac deaths (hazard ratio: 1.82, 95% confidence interval: 0.95-3.49, p = .07) in adjusted models. Risk estimates for deaths due to cancer, dementia, and ischemic stroke were not significant. CONCLUSION These data weakly corroborate prior findings of associations between LTL and mortality in the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette L Fitzpatrick
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Collaborative Health Studies Coordinating Center, Building 29, Suite 310, 6200 NE 74th Street, Seattle, WA 98115, USA.
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36
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Mather KA, Jorm AF, Parslow RA, Christensen H. Is telomere length a biomarker of aging? A review. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2010; 66:202-13. [PMID: 21030466 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glq180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 276] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres, the DNA-protein structures located at the ends of chromosomes, have been proposed to act as a biomarker of aging. In this review, the human evidence that telomere length is a biomarker of aging is evaluated. Although telomere length is implicated in cellular aging, the evidence suggesting telomere length is a biomarker of aging in humans is equivocal. More studies examining the relationships between telomere length and mortality and with measures that decline with "normal" aging in community samples are required. These studies would benefit from longitudinal measures of both telomere length and aging-related parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Anne Mather
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
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Mather KA, Jorm AF, Anstey KJ, Milburn PJ, Easteal S, Christensen H. Cognitive performance and leukocyte telomere length in two narrow age-range cohorts: a population study. BMC Geriatr 2010; 10:62. [PMID: 20843367 PMCID: PMC2949672 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2318-10-62] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2010] [Accepted: 09/16/2010] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive function and telomere length both decline with age. A correlation between these two measures would suggest that they may be influenced by the same underlying age-related biological process. Several studies suggest telomere length may be positively correlated with cognitive performance but the evidence is equivocal. In this report, the relationships between telomere length and cognitive performance at Wave 2 and cognitive change from Wave 1 to Wave 2 are assessed in two narrow age-range population cohorts. METHODS We tested the hypothesis that leukocyte telomere length correlates positively with cognitive performance and cognitive decline in two community cohorts of middle-aged (n = 351, 44-49 years) and older (n = 295, 64-70 years) adults, who participated in two waves of a longitudinal study undertaken in the Canberra-Queanbeyan region of Australia. Telomere length was estimated at Wave 2. Cognitive performance was measured using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, the immediate recall test of the California Verbal Learning Test, reaction time (simple & choice) and the Trails Test Part B. RESULTS Cross-sectionally at Wave 2, telomere length correlated with Symbol Digit Modalities Test scores (men) and simple reaction time (women) for the older cohort only, although the latter finding was in the opposite direction to that hypothesised. Telomere length measured at Wave 2 was not associated with cognitive change from Wave 1 to Wave 2 for either cohort, except for two associations of small magnitude (immediate recall in the older cohort, choice reaction time in older women), which were also in the contrary direction to that predicted. CONCLUSIONS These results do not give strong support to the hypothesis that leukocyte telomere length is associated with either levels of cognitive performance or age-related cognitive change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen A Mather
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
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