Telomere length and cognitive changes in 7,877 older UK adults of European ancestry.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Telomere length (TL) has been linked to cognitive function, decline and dementia. This study aimed to explore whether both measured TL and genetic disposition for TL predict dimensions of cognitive performance in a longitudinal sample of older UK adults.

Methods

We analysed data from PROTECT study participants aged ≥50 years without a dementia diagnosis, who had completed longitudinal cognitive testing. We calculated polygenic scores for telomere length (PGS-TL) for 7,877 participants and measured relative telomere length (RTL) in a subgroup of 846 participants using DNA extracted from saliva samples collected within 6 months either side of their baseline cognitive testing. Latent growth models were used to examine whether RTL and PGS-TL predict both baseline and

SUBMITTER: Packer A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11564160 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature