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. 2011 Nov;32(11):2055-60.
doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2009.12.006. Epub 2009 Dec 23.

Telomere length and cognitive function in community-dwelling elders: findings from the Health ABC Study

Kristine Yaffe  1 , Karla Lindquist, Molly Kluse, Richard Cawthon, Tamara Harris, Wen-Chi Hsueh, Eleanor M Simonsick, Lewis Kuller, Rongling Li, Hilsa N Ayonayon, Susan M Rubin, Steven R Cummings; Health ABC Study
Affiliations

Telomere length and cognitive function in community-dwelling elders: findings from the Health ABC Study

Kristine Yaffe et al. Neurobiol Aging. 2011 Nov.

Abstract

Telomere shortening is a marker of cellular aging and has been associated with risk of Alzheimer's disease. Few studies have determined if telomere length is associated with cognitive decline in non-demented elders. We prospectively studied 2734 non-demented elders (mean age: 74 years). We measured cognition with the Modified Mini-Mental State Exam (3MS) and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) repeatedly over 7 years. Baseline telomere length was measured in blood leukocytes and classified by tertile as "short", "medium", or "long". At baseline, longer telomere length was associated with better DSST score (36.4, 34.9 and 34.4 points for long, medium and short, p<0.01) but not for change in score. However, 7-year 3MS change scores were less among those with longer telomere length (-1.7 points vs. -2.5 and -2.9, p=0.01). Findings were similar after multivariable adjustment for age, gender, race, education, assay batch, and baseline score. There was a borderline statistically significant interaction for telomere length and APOE e4 on 3MS change score (p=0.06). Thus, telomere length may serve as a biomarker for cognitive aging.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure Statement

The authors declare not conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The association between multivariable adjusted 3MS scores and telomere length tertile. Models were adjusted for age, gender, race, education, and assay variability. *P for trend = 0.98 for baseline and 0.01 for change score.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The association between multivariable adjusted DSST scores and telomere length tertile. Models were adjusted for age, gender, race, education, and assay variability. *P for trend = 0.02 for baseline and 0.99 for change score.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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