Longitudinal Changes in Leukocyte Telomere Length and Mortality in Humans

TY - JOUR

T1 - Longitudinal Changes in Leukocyte Telomere Length and Mortality in Humans

AU - Bendix, Laila

AU - Thinggaard, Mikael

AU - Fenger, Mogens

AU - Kolvraa, Steen

AU - Avlund, Kirsten

AU - Linneberg, Allan

AU - Osler, Merete

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - Background. Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) ostensibly shortens with age and has been moderately associated with mortality. In humans, these fndings have come almost solely from cross-sectional studies. Only recently has LTL shortening within individuals been analyzed in longitudinal studies. Such studies are relevant to establish LTL dynamics as biomarkers of mortality as well as to disentangle the causality of telomeres on aging. Methods. We present a large longitudinal study on LTL and human mortality, where the 10-year change of LTL is analyzed in 1,356 individuals aged 30-70 years. Results. We fnd age, smoking status, and alcohol consumption to be associated with LTL attrition and confrm a strong association with baseline LTL. The latter association might be an epiphenomenon of regression to the mean. We do not fnd an association of mortality with either absolute LTL or LTL attrition. Further, we show that DNA quality has an impact on TS ratios. Conclusions. This study establishes that certain lifestyle factors infuence LTL dynamics. However, it questions the applicability of LTL dynamics as a predictor of mortality. We suggest cautiousness when assessing actual LTL attrition due to the need for high-quality DNA and the phenomena of regression to the mean.

AB - Background. Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) ostensibly shortens with age and has been moderately associated with mortality. In humans, these fndings have come almost solely from cross-sectional studies. Only recently has LTL shortening within individuals been analyzed in longitudinal studies. Such studies are relevant to establish LTL dynamics as biomarkers of mortality as well as to disentangle the causality of telomeres on aging. Methods. We present a large longitudinal study on LTL and human mortality, where the 10-year change of LTL is analyzed in 1,356 individuals aged 30-70 years. Results. We fnd age, smoking status, and alcohol consumption to be associated with LTL attrition and confrm a strong association with baseline LTL. The latter association might be an epiphenomenon of regression to the mean. We do not fnd an association of mortality with either absolute LTL or LTL attrition. Further, we show that DNA quality has an impact on TS ratios. Conclusions. This study establishes that certain lifestyle factors infuence LTL dynamics. However, it questions the applicability of LTL dynamics as a predictor of mortality. We suggest cautiousness when assessing actual LTL attrition due to the need for high-quality DNA and the phenomena of regression to the mean.

U2 - 10.1093/gerona/glt153

DO - 10.1093/gerona/glt153

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24149432

SN - 1079-5006

VL - 69A

SP - 231

EP - 239

JO - Journals of Gerontology. Series A: Biological Sciences & Medical Sciences

JF - Journals of Gerontology. Series A: Biological Sciences & Medical Sciences

IS - 2

ER -