Dataset Information

Associations of Telomere Length and Change With Cognitive Decline Were Modified by Sex and Race: The REGARDS Study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

We examined the associations of baseline telomere length (TL) and TL change with cognitive function over time in older US adults, as well as differences by sex and race.

Methods

A total of 1820 cognitively healthy individuals (median baseline age: 63 years) were included. Telomere length was measured using qPCR-based method at baseline and among 614 participants in the follow-up examination 10 years later. Cognitive function was assessed by a four-test battery every 2 years.

Results

In multivariable-adjusted linear mixed models, longer baseline TL and smaller attrition/lengthening of TL over time were associated with better Animal Fluency Test score. Longer baseline TL was also linearly associated with better Letter Fluency Test score. The observed associations were consistently more pronounced in women than men and in Black compared to White participants.

Discussion

Telomere length may be a biomarker that predicts long-term verbal fluency and executive function, particularly in women and Black Americans.

SUBMITTER: Chen C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10624094 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Associations of Telomere Length and Change With Cognitive Decline Were Modified by Sex and Race: The REGARDS Study.

Chen Cheng C Yang Keming K Nan Hongmei H Unverzagt Frederick F McClure Leslie A LA Irvin Marguerite R MR Judd Suzanne S Cushman Mary M Kamin Mukaz Debora D Klaunig James E JE D'Alton Mary E ME Kahe Ka K

American journal of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias 20230101

<h4>Introduction</h4>We examined the associations of baseline telomere length (TL) and TL change with cognitive function over time in older US adults, as well as differences by sex and race.<h4>Methods</h4>A total of 1820 cognitively healthy individuals (median baseline age: 63 years) were included. Telomere length was measured using qPCR-based method at baseline and among 614 participants in the follow-up examination 10 years later. Cognitive function was assessed by a four-test battery every 2 ...[more]

PMID: 37340856

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundShorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with aging and dementia. Impact of lifestyle changes on LTL, and relation to cognition and genetic susceptibility for dementia, has not been investigated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).MethodsFinnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability is a 2-year RCT enrolling 1260 participants at risk for dementia from the general population, aged 60-77 years, randomly assigned (1:1) to multidomain lifestyle intervention or control group. The primary outcome was cognitive change (Neuropsychological Test Battery z-score). Relative LTL was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (trial registration: NCT01041989).ResultsThis exploratory LTL substudy included 756 participants (377 intervention, 379 control) with baseline and 24-month LTL measurements. The mean annual LTL change (SD) was -0.016 (0.19) in the intervention group and -0.023 (0.17) in the control group. Between-group difference was nonsignificant (unstandardized β-coefficient 0.007, 95% CI -0.015 to 0.030). Interaction analyses indicated better LTL maintenance among apolipoprotein E (APOE)-ε4 carriers versus noncarriers: 0.054 (95% CI 0.007 to 0.102); younger versus older participants: -0.005 (95% CI -0.010 to -0.001); and those with more versus less healthy lifestyle changes: 0.047 (95% CI 0.005 to 0.089). Cognitive intervention benefits were more pronounced among participants with better LTL maintenance for executive functioning (0.227, 95% CI 0.057 to 0.396) and long-term memory (0.257, 95% CI 0.024 to 0.489), with a similar trend for Neuropsychological Test Battery total score (0.127, 95% CI -0.011 to 0.264).ConclusionsThis is the first large RCT showing that a multidomain lifestyle intervention facilitated LTL maintenance among subgroups of older people at risk for dementia, including APOE-ε4 carriers. LTL maintenance was associated with more pronounced cognitive intervention benefits.Clinical trials registration numberNCT01041989.

Project description:BackgroundAdherence to healthy lifestyles/behaviours promotes healthy ageing. However, little is known about whether age, sex and/or race/ethnicity moderate associations of lifestyle/behavioural factors with relative telomere length (RTL), a potential biomarker of ageing.MethodsWe included 749 midlife to older non-Hispanic White (n = 254), Black (n = 248) and Hispanic (n = 247) US participants [mean (standard deviation) age = 69.3 (7.2) years; women: 50.5%]. We extracted genomic DNA from peripheral leucocytes. RTL was assayed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Multivariable regression was used to examine associations between lifestyle/behavioural exposures (i.e. physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking and depression) with RTL.ResultsIncreasing chronological age was associated with shorter RTL (P < 0.01). Higher physical activity was associated with longer RTL (P-trend = 0.03); daily versus never/rare alcohol consumption and 30+ versus <5 smoking pack-year were associated with shorter RTLs (P-trend = 0.02). Associations varied significantly by sex and race/ethnicity. The association between physical activity and longer RTL appeared strongest among non-Hispanic Whites (P-interaction = 0.01). Compared to men, women had stronger associations between heavy smoking and shorter RTLs (P-interaction = 0.03). Light/moderate alcohol consumption (monthly/weekly) was associated with longer RTL among non-Hispanic Whites, while daily consumption was related to shorter RTLs among Blacks and Hispanics (P-interactions < 0.01). Associations of daily alcohol and heavy smoking with shorter RTLs were particularly apparent among Black women.ConclusionWe observed novel variations by sex and race/ethnicity in associations between lifestyle/behavioural factors and RTL. Further work is needed to replicate these findings and to address potential public health implications for modifying strategies by sex or across racial/ethnic groups to optimise lifestyles/behaviours for healthy ageing.

Dataset Information

Associations of Telomere Length and Change With Cognitive Decline Were Modified by Sex and Race: The REGARDS Study.

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Publications

Associations of Telomere Length and Change With Cognitive Decline Were Modified by Sex and Race: The REGARDS Study.

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