{"database":"biostudies-literature","file_versions":[],"scores":null,"additional":{"submitter":["Mehta SR"],"funding":["NIMH","NIDA NIH HHS","NIA NIH HHS","NIAID NIH HHS","NIA","NIMH NIH HHS","NIAID","NIDA"],"pagination":["108639"],"full_dataset_link":["https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8026664"],"repository":["biostudies-literature"],"omics_type":["Unknown"],"volume":["221"],"pubmed_abstract":["<h4>Background</h4>HIV infection and methamphetamine dependence (METH) are each associated with inflammation and premature aging, but their impact on biological aging is difficult to measure. Here we examined the impact of HIV and METH on leukocyte telomere lengths (LTL), and the correlations between LTL and other aging biomarkers.<h4>Methods</h4>The study was a cross-sectional analysis of 161 individuals categorized by HIV and methamphetamine (METH) dependence status into four groups: HIV-METH- (n = 50), HIV-METH+ (n = 29), HIV + METH- (n = 40), and HIV + METH+ (n = 42). We analyzed the relationships of leukocyte telomere length (telomere to single copy gene [T/S] ratio) with demographic and clinical data as well as a panel of biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial activation measured in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).<h4>Results</h4>HIV and METH were independently associated with shorter T/S ratio, even after adjusting for demographics and leukocyte count (R<sup>2</sup> = 0·59, p < 0·0001). Higher plasma C-reactive protein (p = 0·0036) and CSF VCAM-1 (p = 0·0080) were also associated with shorter T/S ratio. A shorter T/S ratio was associated with higher risk for cardiovascular disease (p < 0·0001) and stroke (p < 0·0001), worse motor functioning (p = 0·037) and processing speed (p = 0·023), more depressive symptoms (p = 0·013), and higher CSF neurofilament-light (p = 0·003).<h4>Conclusions</h4>HIV and METH dependence were each associated with shorter telomeres. After adjusting for demographics, HIV, and METH, T/S ratio remained associated with aging-related outcomes including neurocognitive impairment, neurodegeneration, risks of cardiovascular disease and stroke. While not establishing causality, this study supports using the T/S ratio as a biomarker for estimating the impact of HIV and comorbidities on long-term health."],"journal":["Drug and alcohol dependence"],"pubmed_title":["Telomere length is associated with HIV infection, methamphetamine use, inflammation, and comorbid disease risk."],"pmcid":["PMC8026664"],"funding_grant_id":["P50 DA026306","K24 MH097673","P30 MH062512","K23 DA037793","P30 AI036214","R01 DA047879","F31 AG064989"],"pubmed_authors":["TMARC Group","Morgan E","Heaton R","Grant I","Ellis RJ","Cookson D","Letendre S","Mehta SR","Iudicello JE","Saloner R","Karris M","Lin J","Okwuegbuna O"],"additional_accession":[]},"is_claimable":false,"name":"Telomere length is associated with HIV infection, methamphetamine use, inflammation, and comorbid disease risk.","description":"<h4>Background</h4>HIV infection and methamphetamine dependence (METH) are each associated with inflammation and premature aging, but their impact on biological aging is difficult to measure. Here we examined the impact of HIV and METH on leukocyte telomere lengths (LTL), and the correlations between LTL and other aging biomarkers.<h4>Methods</h4>The study was a cross-sectional analysis of 161 individuals categorized by HIV and methamphetamine (METH) dependence status into four groups: HIV-METH- (n = 50), HIV-METH+ (n = 29), HIV + METH- (n = 40), and HIV + METH+ (n = 42). We analyzed the relationships of leukocyte telomere length (telomere to single copy gene [T/S] ratio) with demographic and clinical data as well as a panel of biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial activation measured in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).<h4>Results</h4>HIV and METH were independently associated with shorter T/S ratio, even after adjusting for demographics and leukocyte count (R<sup>2</sup> = 0·59, p < 0·0001). Higher plasma C-reactive protein (p = 0·0036) and CSF VCAM-1 (p = 0·0080) were also associated with shorter T/S ratio. A shorter T/S ratio was associated with higher risk for cardiovascular disease (p < 0·0001) and stroke (p < 0·0001), worse motor functioning (p = 0·037) and processing speed (p = 0·023), more depressive symptoms (p = 0·013), and higher CSF neurofilament-light (p = 0·003).<h4>Conclusions</h4>HIV and METH dependence were each associated with shorter telomeres. After adjusting for demographics, HIV, and METH, T/S ratio remained associated with aging-related outcomes including neurocognitive impairment, neurodegeneration, risks of cardiovascular disease and stroke. While not establishing causality, this study supports using the T/S ratio as a biomarker for estimating the impact of HIV and comorbidities on long-term health.","dates":{"release":"2021-01-01T00:00:00Z","publication":"2021 Apr","modification":"2025-04-29T11:33:29.852Z","creation":"2025-04-06T19:55:06.165Z"},"accession":"S-EPMC8026664","cross_references":{"pubmed":["33621803"],"doi":["10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108639"]}}