Longitudinal telomere length profile does not reflect HIV and childhood trauma impacts on cognitive function in South African women.

ABSTRACT: HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) present a challenge in South Africa where the burden of HIV infection is the highest. Identification of biological correlates of HAND is required to improve diagnosis and inform interventions. Telomeres maintain genomic integrity and their shortening is a marker of biological aging sensitive to environmental influences. This study examined relative telomere length (rTL) as a predictor of cognitive function in the context of HIV and childhood trauma (CT), a risk factor for HAND. Two hundred and eighty-six women completed a neurocognitive assessment battery and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction for amplification of telomeric repeats and the reference gene human beta-globin was used to cal

SUBMITTER: Womersley JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8602727 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature