Telomere length and physical performance among older people—The Helsinki Birth Cohort Study
2019
Abstract
Telomerelength has been suggested a
biomarkerof
agingand is associated with several chronic diseases. However, the association between
telomerelength and physical performance is not well known. Using both cross-sectional and longitudinal data, we studied 582 women and 453 men from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study at two time-points; a baseline examination in 2001–2004 at a mean age of 61 years and a follow-up examination approximately 10 years later in 2011–2013.
Telomerelength was measured both at baseline and at follow-up using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Physical performance was evaluated only at follow-up using the Senior Fitness Test (SFT), which assesses strength, flexibility and endurance. In women, shorter
telomerelength at follow-up (p = 0.044) and greater
telomereattrition during follow-up time (p = 0.022) were associated with poorer physical performance after adjusting for covariates (age at baseline, smoking status, body mass index at baseline, follow-up time and educational attainment). No similar associations were found for men. This indicates that, at least in women,
telomerelength could potentially be used as a biomarker for physical performance, however, more longitudinal studies are needed to confirm this association.
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