Peripheral blood telomerase activity and telomerase reverse transcriptase gene expression in psychiatric disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Telomere shortening is shared by all psychiatric disorders and is hypothesized as resulting from decreased telomerase activity (TA) or expression of the TERT (Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase) gene.

Methods

A search in four English databases was conducted from inception to November 2024 to evaluate the association between psychiatric disorders and telomerase activity (TA) or TERT gene expression in peripheral blood. We performed two separate meta-analyses to generate pooled effect size (ES) for TA and TERT gene expression, followed by meta-regression.

Results

The systematic review included 16 studies, 14 of which were included in the meta-analyses. When considering all psychiatric disorders, no associations were found for TA (ES = 0.08

SUBMITTER: Thurin J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12438989 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature