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Verhoeven JE, Wolkowitz OM, Barr Satz I, Conklin Q, Lamers F, Lavebratt C, Lin J, Lindqvist D, Mayer SE, Melas PA, Milaneschi Y, Picard M, Rampersaud R, Rasgon N, Ridout K, Söderberg Veibäck G, Trumpff C, Tyrka AR, Watson K, Wu GWY, Yang R, Zannas AS, Han LKM, Månsson KNT. The researcher's guide to selecting biomarkers in mental health studies. Bioessays 2024; 46:e2300246. [PMID: 39258367 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
Clinical mental health researchers may understandably struggle with how to incorporate biological assessments in clinical research. The options are numerous and are described in a vast and complex body of literature. Here we provide guidelines to assist mental health researchers seeking to include biological measures in their studies. Apart from a focus on behavioral outcomes as measured via interviews or questionnaires, we advocate for a focus on biological pathways in clinical trials and epidemiological studies that may help clarify pathophysiology and mechanisms of action, delineate biological subgroups of participants, mediate treatment effects, and inform personalized treatment strategies. With this paper we aim to bridge the gap between clinical and biological mental health research by (1) discussing the clinical relevance, measurement reliability, and feasibility of relevant peripheral biomarkers; (2) addressing five types of biological tissues, namely blood, saliva, urine, stool and hair; and (3) providing information on how to control sources of measurement variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josine E Verhoeven
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Mental Health program, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Owen M Wolkowitz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Isaac Barr Satz
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Quinn Conklin
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis, California, USA
- Center for Health and Community, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Femke Lamers
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Mental Health program, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Catharina Lavebratt
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine, L8:00, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Daniel Lindqvist
- Unit for Biological and Precision Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Office for Psychiatry and Habilitation, Psychiatry Research Skåne, Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden
| | - Stefanie E Mayer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Philippe A Melas
- Center for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yuri Milaneschi
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Mental Health program, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Complex Trait Genetics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Picard
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Behavioral Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA
- Department of Neurology, H. Houston Merritt Center, Columbia Translational Neuroscience Initiative, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA
- Robert N Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ryan Rampersaud
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Natalie Rasgon
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Kathryn Ridout
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaiser Permanente, Santa Rosa Medical Center, Santa Rosa, California, USA
| | - Gustav Söderberg Veibäck
- Unit for Biological and Precision Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Office for Psychiatry and Habilitation, Psychiatry Research Skåne, Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden
| | - Caroline Trumpff
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Behavioral Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Audrey R Tyrka
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Kathleen Watson
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Gwyneth Winnie Y Wu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Ruoting Yang
- Medical Readiness Systems Biology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Anthony S Zannas
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Laura K M Han
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kristoffer N T Månsson
- Center for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Christian LM, Wilson SJ, Madison AA, Prakash RS, Burd CE, Rosko AE, Kiecolt-Glaser JK. Understanding the health effects of caregiving stress: New directions in molecular aging. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 92:102096. [PMID: 37898293 PMCID: PMC10824392 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Dementia caregiving has been linked to multiple health risks, including infectious illness, depression, anxiety, immune dysregulation, weakened vaccine responses, slow wound healing, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, frailty, cognitive decline, and reduced structural and functional integrity of the brain. The sustained overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines is a key pathway behind many of these risks. However, contrasting findings suggest that some forms of caregiving may have beneficial effects, such as maintaining caregivers' health and providing a sense of meaning and purpose which, in turn, may contribute to lower rates of functional decline and mortality. The current review synthesizes these disparate literatures, identifies methodological sources of discrepancy, and integrates caregiver research with work on aging biomarkers to propose a research agenda that traces the mechanistic pathways of caregivers' health trajectories with a focus on the unique stressors facing spousal caregivers as compared to other informal caregivers. Combined with a focus on psychosocial moderators and mechanisms, studies using state-of-the-art molecular aging biomarkers such as telomere length, p16INK4a, and epigenetic age could help to reconcile mixed literature on caregiving's sequelae by determining whether and under what conditions caregiving-related experiences contribute to faster aging, in part through inflammatory biology. The biomarkers predict morbidity and mortality, and each contributes non-redundant information about age-related molecular changes -together painting a more complete picture of biological aging. Indeed, assessing changes in these biopsychosocial mechanisms over time would help to clarify the dynamic relationships between caregiving experiences, psychological states, immune function, and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Christian
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; The Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Stephanie J Wilson
- Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, University Park, TX, USA
| | - Annelise A Madison
- The Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ruchika S Prakash
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Brain Imaging, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Christin E Burd
- Departments of Molecular Genetics, Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ashley E Rosko
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Janice K Kiecolt-Glaser
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; The Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
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Wolf SE, Shalev I. The shelterin protein expansion of telomere dynamics: Linking early life adversity, life history, and the hallmarks of aging. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105261. [PMID: 37268182 PMCID: PMC10527177 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Aging is characterized by functional decline occurring alongside changes to several hallmarks of aging. One of the hallmarks includes attrition of repeated DNA sequences found at the ends of chromosomes called telomeres. While telomere attrition is linked to morbidity and mortality, whether and how it causally contributes to lifelong rates of functional decline is unclear. In this review, we propose the shelterin-telomere hypothesis of life history, in which telomere-binding shelterin proteins translate telomere attrition into a range of physiological outcomes, the extent of which may be modulated by currently understudied variation in shelterin protein levels. Shelterin proteins may expand the breadth and timing of consequences of telomere attrition, e.g., by translating early life adversity into acceleration of the aging process. We consider how the pleiotropic roles of shelterin proteins provide novel insights into natural variation in physiology, life history, and lifespan. We highlight key open questions that encourage the integrative, organismal study of shelterin proteins that enhances our understanding of the contribution of the telomere system to aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Wolf
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Idan Shalev
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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Kim Y, Lin J, Epel ES, Carver CS. A Lens on Caregiver Stress in Cancer: Longitudinal Investigation of Cancer-Related Stress and Telomere Length Among Family Caregivers of Adult Patients With Cancer. Psychosom Med 2023; 85:527-534. [PMID: 37260287 PMCID: PMC10524877 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Family members are typically the primary caregivers of patients with chronic illnesses. Family caregivers of adult relatives with cancer are a fast-growing population, yet the physical consequences of their stress due to the cancer in the family have been poorly understood. This study examined the bidirectional relations of the perceived stress of family caregivers of individuals recently diagnosed with cancer and leukocyte cellular aging indexed by telomere length for 2 years. METHODS Family caregivers ( N = 168; mean age = 51 years, 70% female, 46% Hispanic, 36% spouse to the patient) of patients with colorectal cancer provided psychological data and peripheral blood samples approximately 4 (T1), 12 (T2), and 21 months (T3) after diagnosis. Time-lagged cross-panel modeling was used to test the associations of perceived cancer-related stress and telomere length, controlling for age, sex, and body mass index. RESULTS Cancer-related stress was highest at T1 and decreased by 1 year. Greater cancer-related stress predicted longer telomere length at subsequent assessments for 2 years ( β ≥ 0.911, p ≤ .019). However, telomere length did not change significantly for 2 years overall and did not prospectively predict cancer-related stress over this period. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest the need to better understand how the perceived stress of colorectal cancer caregivers, which tends to be intense for a relatively short period compared with dementia caregiving, may impact immune cell distributions and telomere length. These findings emphasize the need for further knowledge about psychobiological mechanisms of how cancer caregiving may impact cellular aging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Elissa S. Epel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco
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Raftopoulou C, Abawi O, Sommer G, Binou M, Paltoglou G, Flück CE, van den Akker ELT, Charmandari E. Leukocyte Telomere Length in Children With Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2023; 108:443-452. [PMID: 36181470 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgac560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Exposure to chronic stress and hypercortisolism is associated with decreased leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a marker for biological aging and cardiovascular disease. Children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) are treated with glucocorticoids. OBJECTIVE To investigate LTL in children with CAH. METHODS In this prospective observational cohort study, conducted at 4 academic pediatric endocrinology outpatient clinics, children with genetically confirmed CAH were assessed at 2 follow-up visits (mean 4.1 ± 0.7 months apart). At each visit, LTL was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. All subjects underwent detailed clinical and endocrinologic evaluation and were classified as undertreated, optimally treated, or overtreated, accordingly. The influence of clinical factors on LTL was investigated using linear mixed models adjusted for age, sex, and BMI-z. RESULTS We studied 76 patients, of whom 31 (41%) were girls, 63 (83%) had classic CAH, 67 (88%) received hydrocortisone, and 8 (11%) prednisolone. Median age at first visit was 12.0 years (IQR, 6.3-15.1), and median BMI-z was 0.51 (IQR, -0.12 to 1.43). LTL was shorter in patients with classic vs nonclassic CAH (-0.29, P = 0.012), in overtreated than in optimally treated patients (-0.07, P = 0.002), and patients receiving prednisolone compared with hydrocortisone (-0.34, P < 0.001). LTL was not associated with undertreatment or daily hydrocortisone-equivalent dose (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION LTL is shorter in patients with classic than nonclassic CAH, and in those who are overtreated with hydrocortisone or treated with long-acting glucocorticoids. These findings may be attributed to chronic exposure to supraphysiologic glucocorticoid concentrations and indicate that LTL may be used as a biomarker for monitoring glucocorticoid treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Raftopoulou
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, 'Aghia Sophia' Children's Hospital, Athens 11527, Greece
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Ozair Abawi
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, The Netherlands
| | - Grit Sommer
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Bern and Department of BioMedical Research, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern 3010, Switzerland
| | - Maria Binou
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, 'Aghia Sophia' Children's Hospital, Athens 11527, Greece
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - George Paltoglou
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, 'Aghia Sophia' Children's Hospital, Athens 11527, Greece
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Christa E Flück
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Bern and Department of BioMedical Research, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern 3010, Switzerland
| | - Erica L T van den Akker
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, The Netherlands
| | - E Charmandari
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, 'Aghia Sophia' Children's Hospital, Athens 11527, Greece
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece
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Wolf SE, Sanders TL, Beltran SE, Rosvall KA. The telomere regulatory gene POT1 responds to stress and predicts performance in nature: Implications for telomeres and life history evolution. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6155-6171. [PMID: 34674335 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are emerging as correlates of fitness-related traits and may be important mediators of ecologically relevant variation in life history strategies. Growing evidence suggests that telomere dynamics can be more predictive of performance than length itself, but very little work considers how telomere regulatory mechanisms respond to environmental challenges or influence performance in nature. Here, we combine observational and experimental data sets from free-living tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) to assess how performance is predicted by the telomere regulatory gene POT1, which encodes a shelterin protein that sterically blocks telomerase from repairing the telomere. First, we show that lower POT1 gene expression in the blood was associated with higher female quality, that is, earlier breeding and heavier body mass. We next challenged mothers with an immune stressor (lipopolysaccharide injection) that led to "sickness" in mothers and 24 h of food restriction in their offspring. While POT1 did not respond to maternal injection, females with lower constitutive POT1 gene expression were better able to maintain feeding rates following treatment. Maternal injection also generated a 1-day stressor for chicks, which responded with lower POT1 gene expression and elongated telomeres. Other putatively stress-responsive mechanisms (i.e., glucocorticoids, antioxidants) showed marginal responses in stress-exposed chicks. Model comparisons indicated that POT1 mRNA abundance was a largely better predictor of performance than telomere dynamics, indicating that telomere regulators may be powerful modulators of variation in life history strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Wolf
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.,Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Tiana L Sanders
- Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Sol E Beltran
- Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Kimberly A Rosvall
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.,Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
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Seibt K, Ghaffari M, Scheu T, Koch C, Sauerwein H. Effects of different feeding levels during a 14-week preweaning phase in dairy heifer calves on telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number in blood. J Dairy Sci 2022; 105:8509-8522. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-21891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Wolf SE, Rosvall KA. A multi-tissue view on telomere dynamics and postnatal growth. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 337:346-355. [PMID: 34964306 PMCID: PMC8989676 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Trade-offs between growth and self-maintenance are common in nature, such that early-life effects on growth can generate lasting consequences on survival and longevity. Telomeres-putative biomarkers of self-maintenance-may link early growth with these later phenotypic effects, but evidence for growth-telomere trade-offs is mixed. Null or even positive relationships between growth and telomeres may be driven by heterogeneity in resource availability or invariable allocation towards telomere maintenance within a population. We used nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) to assess the directionality and timing of relationships between growth and telomere length in several tissues. We focused on two important phases of growth: first, the peak of postnatal growth occurring around 6 days old when nestlings grow by ~33% in a single day, and subsequently, the later phase of growth occurring as body mass plateaus near adult size at 12 days old. We quantified telomere attrition in blood during postnatal growth, as well as telomere length in the blood, brain, adrenals, and liver at 12 days old. Growth was unrelated to telomere length in the liver and telomere dynamics in blood. However, brain telomere length was positively correlated with peak growth, and adrenal telomere length was positively related to later growth, particularly for chicks that had experienced a temporary stressor. These observations suggest that variation in resource availability may mask trade-offs, generating positive correlations between growth and telomere length at the population level. They also provide insights into complex relationships between growth and self-maintenance that can be revealed by looking in multiple tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Wolf
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
- Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Kimberly A Rosvall
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
- Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
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Raftopoulou C, Paltoglou G, Charmandari E. Association between Telomere Length and Pediatric Obesity: A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14061244. [PMID: 35334902 PMCID: PMC8949519 DOI: 10.3390/nu14061244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Telomere length (TL) is a robust marker of biological aging, and increased telomere attrition is noted in adults with obesity. The primary objective of this systematic review was to summarize current knowledge on the effects of childhood obesity in TL. The secondary objective was to assess the effect of weight management interventions in TL. Methods: The following databases were searched: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Heal-link.gr from inception to September 2021. The search was performed using the following combinations of terms: “telomer*” [All Fields] AND (“length” [All Fields] OR “lengths” [All Fields]) AND “obes*” [All Fields] AND (“child*” [All Fields] OR “adolescen*” [All Fields]). Results: A total of 16 original articles were included in this systematic review. Eleven of them were cross-sectional and five were lifestyle interventions. Conclusions: There was a tendency towards a negative association between childhood obesity and TL. Life-style interventions in children have been associated with increased TL peripherally, indicating a possible association of the redistribution of younger cells in the periphery with the favorable effect of these interventions. Further prospective studies with larger sample sizes that employ other markers of cell aging would potentially elucidate this important mechanistic relation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Raftopoulou
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - George Paltoglou
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Evangelia Charmandari
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece;
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +30-213-2013-384
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Schutte N, Malouff JM. The association between optimism and telomere length: A meta-analysis. THE JOURNAL OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2020.1832249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Schutte
- Psychology, University of New England, Armidale, Australia
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11
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Fritz MM, Walsh LC, Cole SW, Epel E, Lyubomirsky S. Kindness and cellular aging: A pre-registered experiment testing the effects of prosocial behavior on telomere length and well-being. Brain Behav Immun Health 2021; 11:100187. [PMID: 34589726 PMCID: PMC8474583 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2020.100187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Prosocial behavior can improve psychological well-being and physical health. However, the underlying biological mechanisms that mediate the relationship between prosociality and health remain unclear. In this pre-registered experiment, we tested whether a 4-week kindness intervention could slow leukocyte telomere shortening and increase well-being. Methods Community adults (N = 230) were randomly assigned to complete 1 of 3 activities, each week for 4 weeks: to perform 3 kind acts for other people, to perform 3 kind acts for themselves, or to list daily activities. At baseline and post-intervention, participants came to the lab to provide a small dried blood spot (DBS) sample via finger prick for analysis of telomere length. Participants completed psychological measures (e.g., loneliness, life satisfaction) at baseline, post-intervention, and at the 2-week follow up. Results Participants who performed kind acts for others did not demonstrate hypothesized changes in well-being, nor in telomere length, relative to controls. Exploratory analyses revealed that, relative to controls, participants who did kind acts for others showed reductions in loneliness through the 2-week follow up. Conclusions The salubrious effects of prosocial behavior in the short term are not likely due to the inhibition of cellular aging (at least as indexed by telomere length). However, extending kindness to others holds promise as a future research direction for interventions to alleviate loneliness. Prosocial behavior is associated with better health, but mechanisms remain unclear. We report a pre-registered investigation of prosocial behavior and telomere length. A 4-week prosocial behavior intervention did not slow rates of telomere shortening. Performing prosocial behavior for others was linked with reductions in loneliness. Prosocial behavior may reduce loneliness but does not appear to impact telomeres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M Fritz
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Lisa C Walsh
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Steven W Cole
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Elissa Epel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sonja Lyubomirsky
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
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Peña E, León-Mengíbar J, Powell TR, Caixàs A, Cardoner N, Rosa A. Telomere length in patients with obesity submitted to bariatric surgery: A systematic review. EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW 2021; 29:842-853. [PMID: 34545641 DOI: 10.1002/erv.2865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with obesity show evidence of increased levels of inflammation, oxidative stress and premature ageing. Telomere length (TL) is a key marker of cellular ageing, and patients with obesity often present shorter TL. Bariatric surgery (BS) is currently the most effective treatment for severe obesity. The aim of this systematic review was to explore whether the beneficial health effects observed after surgery in obese patients correspond to a restoration in TL or slower rates of shortening. As a secondary aim, we evaluated, at baseline and post-surgery, the relationship between TL and different factors that could play a role in TL changes along time. METHODS Searches for relevant articles were performed in MEDLINE, Web of Knowledge and SCOPUS. Prospective longitudinal studies that evaluated leukocyte TL in adult patients who had undergone BS were included. Data were extracted and evaluated by two independent researchers. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO with the number CRD42020197711. RESULTS Seven studies based on independent samples that fulfilled our inclusion criteria were included. Obese patients showed shorter telomeres compared to healthy individuals. Long-term studies (>2 years) seem to suggest an improvement in TL after surgery presumably due to the improvement of the inflammatory and oxidative levels of the patients induced by weight loss. CONCLUSION Studies seem to point towards a beneficial long-term effect of BS on TL recovery. However, the scarce number of studies and the heterogeneity in the variables analysed in the different cohorts make it difficult to draw a firm conclusion. More studies are needed to evaluate long-term changes to TL following BS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Peña
- Secció de Zoologia i Antropologia Biològica, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Biomedicina, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep León-Mengíbar
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Corporacio Sanitària Parc taulí, Sabadell, Spain.,Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Hospital Universitari Parc Tauli, Sabadell, Spain.,Medicine Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Sabadell, Spain
| | - Timothy R Powell
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Assumpta Caixàs
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Corporacio Sanitària Parc taulí, Sabadell, Spain.,Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Hospital Universitari Parc Tauli, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Narcís Cardoner
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Corporacio Sanitària Parc taulí, Sabadell, Spain.,Mental Health Department, Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain.,Depression and Anxiety Program, Department of Mental Health, Parc Tauli Sabadell, Hospital Universitari, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centre for Biomedical Network on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Araceli Rosa
- Secció de Zoologia i Antropologia Biològica, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Biomedicina, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.,Centre for Biomedical Network on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
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Paltoglou G, Raftopoulou C, Nicolaides NC, Genitsaridi SM, Karampatsou SI, Papadopoulou M, Kassari P, Charmandari E. A Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary, Personalized, Lifestyle Intervention Program Is Associated with Increased Leukocyte Telomere Length in Children and Adolescents with Overweight and Obesity. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13082682. [PMID: 34444842 PMCID: PMC8402072 DOI: 10.3390/nu13082682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Leucocyte telomere length (LTL) is a robust marker of biological aging and is associated with obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors in childhood and adolescence. We investigated the effect of a structured, comprehensive, multidisciplinary, personalized, lifestyle intervention program of healthy diet and physical exercise on LTL in 508 children and adolescents (239 males, 269 females; 282 prepubertal, 226 pubertal), aged 10.14 ± 0.13 years. Participants were classified as obese (n = 267, 52.6%), overweight (n = 174, 34.2%), or of normal BMI (n = 67, 13.2%) according to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cutoff points and were studied prospectively for one year. We demonstrated that LTL increased significantly after 1 year of the lifestyle interventions, irrespective of gender, pubertal status, or body mass index (BMI). Waist circumference was the best negative predictor of LTL at initial assessment. The implementation of the lifestyle interventions also resulted in a significant improvement in clinical (BMI, BMI z-score and waist to height ratio) and body composition indices of obesity, inflammatory markers, hepatic enzymes, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), and lipid profile in all participants. These findings indicate that the increased LTL may be associated with a more favorable metabolic profile and decreased morbidity later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Paltoglou
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, ‘Aghia Sophia’ Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece; (G.P.); (N.C.N.); (S.M.G.); (S.I.K.); (M.P.); (P.K.)
| | - Christina Raftopoulou
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Nicolas C. Nicolaides
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, ‘Aghia Sophia’ Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece; (G.P.); (N.C.N.); (S.M.G.); (S.I.K.); (M.P.); (P.K.)
| | - Sofia M. Genitsaridi
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, ‘Aghia Sophia’ Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece; (G.P.); (N.C.N.); (S.M.G.); (S.I.K.); (M.P.); (P.K.)
| | - Sofia I. Karampatsou
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, ‘Aghia Sophia’ Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece; (G.P.); (N.C.N.); (S.M.G.); (S.I.K.); (M.P.); (P.K.)
| | - Marina Papadopoulou
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, ‘Aghia Sophia’ Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece; (G.P.); (N.C.N.); (S.M.G.); (S.I.K.); (M.P.); (P.K.)
| | - Penio Kassari
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, ‘Aghia Sophia’ Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece; (G.P.); (N.C.N.); (S.M.G.); (S.I.K.); (M.P.); (P.K.)
| | - Evangelia Charmandari
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, ‘Aghia Sophia’ Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece; (G.P.); (N.C.N.); (S.M.G.); (S.I.K.); (M.P.); (P.K.)
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +30-21-3201-3384
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14
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Mehrsafar AH, Serrano Rosa MA, Moghadam Zadeh A, Gazerani P. Stress, Professional Lifestyle, and Telomere Biology in Elite Athletes: A Growing Trend in Psychophysiology of Sport. Front Psychol 2020; 11:567214. [PMID: 33250812 PMCID: PMC7673416 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.567214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Professional lifestyle and championship period often put a great deal of pressure on athletes, who usually experience highly stressful periods during training for competitions. Recently, biomarkers of cellular aging, telomere length (TL) and telomerase activity (TA), have been considered to investigate the effects of stress and lifestyle factors. Studies in non-athletic populations have shown that stress and poor lifestyle decrease TL and TA. On the other hand, it has been shown that in general, exercise increases TL and its activity, although the underlying mechanisms remained largely unexplored. TL and TA outcomes in elite athletes remain inconclusive and mainly affected by confounding factors, such as age. Elite athletes, therefore, might offer a unique target group for studying exercise-telomere hypothesis for further investigation of the roles of stressors on telomere-related biomarkers. In this perspective, we highlight the potentials for studying these psychophysiological markers in elite athletes in order to understand stress-aging relationship and potential underlying mechanisms. Moreover, we present important methodological aspects that could help in the development of future experimental designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Hossien Mehrsafar
- Department of Sport Psychology, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Miguel Angel Serrano Rosa
- Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.,Laboratory of Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ali Moghadam Zadeh
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parisa Gazerani
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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15
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Ojeda-Rodríguez A, Morell-Azanza L, Zalba G, Zazpe I, Azcona-Sanjulian MC, Marti A. Associations of telomere length with two dietary quality indices after a lifestyle intervention in children with abdominal obesity: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatr Obes 2020; 15:e12661. [PMID: 32558330 DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dietary factors seem to influence telomere length. Moreover, associations between changes in adiposity indices and telomere length (TL) have been found in intervention studies. OBJECTIVE We evaluated changes in two diet quality indices and their association with TL in children with abdominal obesity in a 12-month lifestyle intervention. METHODS Eighty-seven participants (7-16 years old) were assigned to the intervention (moderate hypocaloric Mediterranean diet) or usual care group (standard paediatric recommendations) for a 2-month intensive phase and a subsequent 10-month follow-up. Diet quality was assessed using the Diet Quality Index for Adolescents (DQI-A) and the Healthy Lifestyle Diet Index (HLD-I). TL was measured by monochrome multiplex real-time quantitative PCR. The intra-class correlation coefficient for TL was 0.793 (95% CI 0.707, 0.857). RESULTS After a 12-month lifestyle intervention, a significant reduction in BMI-SDS (-0.57 and -0.49 for the intervention and usual care groups, respectively) and fat mass was observed in all subjects without differences between groups. Changes in DQI-A (+12.36% vs +5.53%, P = .005) and HLD-I (+4.43 vs +1.09, P < .001) were higher in the intervention subjects compared with usual care subjects after 2 months. Interestingly, we observed a positive change in TL between 2 and 12 months (P = .025), which was associated with higher scores on the DQI-A (β = 0.008, R2 = 0.088, P = .010) and HLD-I (β = 0.022, R2 = 0.198, P = .015), in the intervention group after the 2-month intensive phase. CONCLUSION Favourable changes in diet quality indices could contribute to telomere integrity in children with abdominal obesity enrolled in an intensive lifestyle intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ojeda-Rodríguez
- Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Lydia Morell-Azanza
- Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Guillermo Zalba
- IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Itziar Zazpe
- Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine-Clínica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Biomedical Research Centre Network on Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Cristina Azcona-Sanjulian
- IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Amelia Marti
- Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Biomedical Research Centre Network on Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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16
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Warner ET, Zhang Y, Gu Y, Taporoski TP, Pereira A, DeVivo I, Spence ND, Cozier Y, Palmer JR, Kanaya AM, Kandula NR, Cole SA, Tworoger S, Shields A. Physical and sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence and leukocyte telomere length: A pooled analysis of the study on psychosocial stress, spirituality, and health. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241363. [PMID: 33125425 PMCID: PMC7598522 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction We examined whether abuse in childhood and/or adolescence was associated with shorter telomere length in a pooled analysis of 3,232 participants from five diverse cohorts. We also assessed whether religion or spirituality (R/S) could buffer deleterious effects of abuse. Methods Physical and sexual abuse in childhood (age <12) and adolescence (age 12–18) was assessed using the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale and questions from a 1995 Gallup survey. We measured relative leukocyte telomere lengths (RTL) using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. We used generalized estimating equations to assess associations of physical and sexual abuse with log-transformed RTL z-scores. Analyses were conducted in each cohort, overall, and stratified by extent of religiosity or spirituality and religious coping in adulthood. We pooled study‐specific estimates using random‐effects models and assessed between-study heterogeneity. Results Compared to no abuse, severe sexual abuse was associated with lower RTL z-scores, in childhood: -15.6%, 95% CI: -25.9, -4.9; p-trend = 0.04; p-heterogeneity = 0.58 and in adolescence: -16.5%, 95% CI: -28.1, -3.0; p-trend = 0.08; p-heterogeneity = 0.68. Sexual abuse experienced in both childhood and adolescence was associated with 11.3% lower RTL z-scores after adjustment for childhood and demographic covariates (95% CI: -20.5%, -2.0%; p-trend = 0.03; p-heterogeneity = 0.62). There was no evidence of effect modification by R/S. Physical abuse was not associated with telomere length. Conclusions Sexual abuse in childhood or adolescence was associated with a marker of accelerated biological aging, decreased telomere length. The lack of moderation by R/S may be due to inability to capture the appropriate time period for those beliefs and practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica T. Warner
- MGH/Harvard Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Clinical Translational Epidemiology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Ying Zhang
- MGH/Harvard Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Yue Gu
- MGH/Harvard Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Tâmara P. Taporoski
- Department of Neurology (Sleep Medicine), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute (Incor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Pereira
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute (Incor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Immaculata DeVivo
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Nicholas D. Spence
- MGH/Harvard Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Sociology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yvette Cozier
- Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Julie R. Palmer
- Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Alka M. Kanaya
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, Califonia, United States of America
| | - Namratha R. Kandula
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Shelley A. Cole
- Department of Genetics, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Shelley Tworoger
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Alexandra Shields
- MGH/Harvard Center on Genomics, Vulnerable Populations, and Health Disparities, Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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17
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Peña E, Powell TR, Arenas C, Cardoner N, Rebasa P, Luna A, Caixàs A, Rosa A. Longitudinal changes in telomere length in a cohort of obese patients submitted to bariatric surgery: a 2-year follow-up. Surg Obes Relat Dis 2020; 16:1794-1801. [PMID: 32741725 DOI: 10.1016/j.soard.2020.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomere length (TL) is one biomarker of cell aging used to explore the effects of the environment on age-related pathologies. Obesity and high body mass index have been identified as a risk factors for shortened TL. OBJECTIVE To evaluate TL in different subtypes of obese patients, and to examine changes in TL in relation to weight loss after bariatric surgery. SETTING University Hospital in Spain. METHODS A cohort of 94 patients submitted to bariatric surgery were followed-up during 24 months (t24m: lost to follow-up = 0%). All patients were evaluated before surgery (t0) and during the postoperative period (t6m, t12m, and t24m) for body mass index and metabolic variables. We assessed TL at each timepoint using quantitative polymerase chain reactions and the telomere sequence to single-copy gene sequence ratio method. RESULTS Patients with class III obesity showed significantly shorter TL at baseline than those patients with class II obesity (P = .027). No differences in TL were found between patients with or without type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Longitudinal analysis did not show an effect of time, type of surgery, age, or sex on TL. However, a generalized estimating equation model showed that TL was shorter amongst class III obesity patients across the time course (P = .008). Comparison between patients with obesity class II and class III showed differences in TL at t6m (adjusted P = .024), whereby class II patients had longer TL. However, no difference was observed at the other evaluated times. CONCLUSION Obesity severity may have negative effects on TL independently of type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Although TL is significantly longer in class II obesity patients relative to class III 6 months after bariatric surgery. This difference is not apparent after 24 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elionora Peña
- Secció de Zoologia i Antropologia Biològica, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Timothy R Powell
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York
| | - Concepción Arenas
- Secció d'Estadística, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Narcis Cardoner
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Spain; Mental Health Department, Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Spain; Depression and anxiety program, Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Sabadell, Hospital Universitari, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centre for Biomedical Research Network on Mental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pere Rebasa
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Spain; Surgery Department, Esofago-gastric Surgery Section, Hospital Universitari Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Alexis Luna
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Spain; Surgery Department, Esofago-gastric Surgery Section, Hospital Universitari Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Assumpta Caixàs
- Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Spain; Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Hospital Universitari Parc Taulí, Medicine Department Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain.
| | - Araceli Rosa
- Secció de Zoologia i Antropologia Biològica, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centre for Biomedical Research Network on Mental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.
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18
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Patterns of change in telomere length over the first three years of life in healthy children. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 115:104602. [PMID: 32120019 PMCID: PMC7183438 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
There is growing interest in the use of telomere length as a biomarker of health and a predictor of later morbidity and mortality. However, little is known about developmentally expected telomere erosion over the first years of life. This gap hinders our ability to interpret the meaning of relative telomere length and rate of attrition in relation to risk factors and health outcomes. The overall goal of this study was to examine the rate of relative telomere length attrition in a large, normative sample of healthy children (N = 630) followed from infancy to three years of age. A secondary goal was to explore associations between sociodemographic characteristics and telomere erosion over this time period. Relative telomere length was assessed from DNA in saliva samples collected in infancy (M = 8.6 months), age 2 years (M = 25.2 months), and age 3 years (M = 38.3 months). In the sample as a whole, relative telomere length decreased from infancy to 2 years but remained stable from 2 years to 3 years. Notably, increases in relative telomere length were observed in 29 % of children between infancy and 2 years of age and in 46 % of children between 2 and 3 years of age; 62 % of children showed both increases and decreases in relative telomere length across the study period. Females showed longer relative telomere length than males, regardless of timepoint. There was some evidence that parental age and family finances were associated with changes in child relative telomere length across time. Overall, the findings suggest that telomere length attrition is not uniform across the early years of life, with the most rapid attrition occurring during the first two years, and that increases as well as decreases in telomere length during this period are commonly observed.
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Vecoli C, Borghini A, Andreassi MG. The molecular biomarkers of vascular aging and atherosclerosis: telomere length and mitochondrial DNA 4977 common deletion. MUTATION RESEARCH-REVIEWS IN MUTATION RESEARCH 2020; 784:108309. [PMID: 32430098 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2020.108309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Age is the dominant risk factor for the most prevalent atherosclerotic vascular diseases, including coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease and stroke. In human, telomere erosion and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage play a central role in the mechanisms leading to cellular aging decline. This review summarizes the most relevant findings on the role of telomere shortening and the common mtDNA4977 deletion in the progression and evolution of atherosclerosis by combining insight from experimental models and human clinical studies. The current evidence shows a link between telomere erosion and compromised mitochondrial function and provides a new perspective regarding their potential role as clinical biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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20
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Abstract
Objective: Telomeres are the caps at the end of chromosomes. Short telomeres are a biomarker for worsening health and early death.Design: The present study consolidated research on meditation and telomere length through a meta-analysis of results of studies examining the effect of meditation on telomere length by comparing the telomere length of meditating participants with participants in control conditions.Results: A search of the literature identified 11 studies reporting 12 comparisons of meditating individuals with individuals in control conditions. An overall significant weighted effect size of g =.40 indicated that the individuals in meditation conditions had longer telomeres. When an outlier effect size was trimmed from the analysis, the effect size was smaller, g =.16. Across studies, a greater number of hours of meditation among participants in meditation conditions was associated with larger effect sizes.Conclusion: These findings provide tentative support for the hypothesis that participants in meditation conditions have longer telomeres than participants in comparison conditions, and that a greater number of hours of meditation is associated with a greater impact on telomere biology. The results of the meta-analysis have potential clinical significance in that they suggest that meditation-based interventions may prevent telomere attrition or increase telomere length.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John M Malouff
- Psychology, University of New England, Armidale, Australia
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21
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Le Nguyen KD, Lin J, Algoe SB, Brantley MM, Kim SL, Brantley J, Salzberg S, Fredrickson BL. Loving-kindness meditation slows biological aging in novices: Evidence from a 12-week randomized controlled trial. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 108:20-27. [PMID: 31185369 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Combinations of multiple meditation practices have been shown to reduce the attrition of telomeres, the protective caps of chromosomes (Carlson et al., 2015). Here, we probed the distinct effects on telomere length (TL) of mindfulness meditation (MM) and loving-kindness meditation (LKM). Midlife adults (N = 142) were randomized to be in a waitlist control condition or to learn either MM or LKM in a 6-week workshop. Telomere length was assessed 2 weeks before the start of the workshops and 3 weeks after their termination. After controlling for appropriate demographic covariates and baseline TL, we found TL decreased significantly in the MM group and the control group, but not in the LKM group. There was also significantly less TL attrition in the LKM group than the control group. The MM group showed changes in TL that were intermediate between the LKM and control groups yet not significantly different from either. Self-reported emotions and practice intensity (duration and frequency) did not mediate these observed group differences. This study is the first to disentangle the effects of LKM and MM on TL and suggests that LKM may buffer telomere attrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khoa D Le Nguyen
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #3270, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, 600 16th St, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Sara B Algoe
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #3270, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | | | - Sumi L Kim
- Office of Religious Life, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jeffrey Brantley
- Duke Integrative Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Barbara L Fredrickson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #3270, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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22
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Puhlmann LMC, Valk SL, Engert V, Bernhardt BC, Lin J, Epel ES, Vrtička P, Singer T. Association of Short-term Change in Leukocyte Telomere Length With Cortical Thickness and Outcomes of Mental Training Among Healthy Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open 2019; 2:e199687. [PMID: 31553468 PMCID: PMC6763984 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.9687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Importance Telomere length is associated with the development of age-related diseases and structural differences in multiple brain regions. It remains unclear, however, whether change in telomere length is linked to brain structure change, and to what extent telomere length can be influenced through mental training. Objectives To assess the dynamic associations between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and cortical thickness (CT), and to determine whether LTL is affected by a longitudinal contemplative mental training intervention. Design, Setting, and Participants An open-label efficacy trial of three 3-month mental training modules with healthy, meditation-naive adults was conducted. Data on LTL and CT were collected 4 times over 9 months between April 22, 2013, and March 31, 2015, as part of the ReSource Project. Data analysis was performed between September 23, 2016, and June 21, 2019. Of 1582 eligible individuals, 943 declined to participate; 362 were randomly selected for participation and assigned to training or retest control cohorts, with demographic characteristics matched. The retest control cohorts underwent all testing but no training. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed. Interventions Training cohort participants completed 3 modules cultivating interoception and attention (Presence), compassion (Affect), or perspective taking (Perspective). Main Outcomes and Measures Change in LTL and CT. Results Of the 362 individuals randomized, 30 participants dropped out before study initiation (initial sample, 332). Data were available for analysis of the training intervention in 298 participants (n = 222 training; n = 76 retest control) (175 women [58.7%]; mean [SD] age, 40.5 [9.3] years). The training modules had no effect on LTL. In 699 observations from all 298 participants, mean estimated changes in the relative ratios of telomere repeat copy number to single-copy gene (T/S) were for no training, 0.004 (95% CI, -0.010 to 0.018); Presence, -0.007 (95% CI, -0.025 to 0.011); Affect, -0.005 (95% CI, -0.019 to 0.010); and Perspective, -0.001 (95% CI, -0.017 to 0.016). Cortical thickness change data were analyzed in 167 observations from 67 retest control participants (37 women [55.2%], mean [SD] age, 39.6 [9.0] years). In this retest control cohort subsample, naturally occurring LTL change was related to CT change in the left precuneus extending to the posterior cingulate cortex (mean t161 = 3.22; P < .001; r = 0.246). At the individual participant level, leukocyte telomere shortening as well as lengthening were observed. Leukocyte telomere shortening was related to cortical thinning (t77 = 2.38; P = .01; r = 0.262), and leukocyte telomere lengthening was related to cortical thickening (t77 = 2.42; P = .009; r = 0.266). All analyses controlled for age, sex, and body mass index. Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this trial indicate an association between short-term change in LTL and concomitant change in plasticity of the left precuneus extending to the posterior cingulate cortex. This result contributes to the evidence that LTL changes more dynamically on the individual level than previously thought. Further studies are needed to determine potential long-term implications of such change in relation to cellular aging and the development of neurodegenerative disorders. No effect of contemplative mental training was noted in what may be, to date, the longest intervention with healthy adults. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01833104.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara M. C. Puhlmann
- Research Group, “Social Stress and Family Health,” Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sofie L. Valk
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-7: Brain & Behaviour), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Veronika Engert
- Research Group, “Social Stress and Family Health,” Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Boris C. Bernhardt
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Elissa S. Epel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Pascal Vrtička
- Research Group, “Social Stress and Family Health,” Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tania Singer
- Social Neuroscience Lab, Max Planck Society, Berlin, Germany
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23
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Clinical, epidemiological, and biological evidence raises the possibility that serious mental disorders (SMDs) are associated with accelerated biological aging. To the extent this is true; SMDs should not simply be considered in terms of mental illness or brain dysfunction, but also as 'whole body' and multisystem illnesses, or else as conditions with significant somatic concomitants. RECENT FINDINGS The concept of accelerated biological aging in SMDs is supported by reports of accelerated changes in certain biomarkers normally associated with the aging process. SUMMARY We define and discuss several proposed biological aging markers that have been examined in SMDs, we review the most recent findings, and we conclude with opinions regarding the merits and meanings of these markers, their usefulness in understanding and treating SMDs, and remaining questions and future directions in this area of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Saverio Bersani
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, San Francisco, USA
| | - Synthia H. Mellon
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, San Francisco, USA
| | - Victor I. Reus
- Department of Psychiatry, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, San Francisco, USA
| | - Owen M. Wolkowitz
- Department of Psychiatry, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, San Francisco, USA
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24
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Meier HCS, Hussein M, Needham B, Barber S, Lin J, Seeman T, Diez Roux A. Cellular response to chronic psychosocial stress: Ten-year longitudinal changes in telomere length in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 107:70-81. [PMID: 31112903 PMCID: PMC6635040 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated an inverse association between chronic psychosocial stress and leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a potential marker of cellular aging. However, due to paucity of longitudinal data, responses of LTL and the LTL aging trajectory to changes in chronic stress exposure remain less well understood. Using data from the Stress I and II ancillary studies of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, we estimated the 10-year longitudinal (n = 1,158) associations of within-person changes in chronic stress with changes in LTL, as well as the pooled, cross-sectional associations of chronic stress and LTL (total n = 2,231). We measured chronic stress from both individual and neighborhood-environment sources. At the individual level, we calculated a summary score of each participant's rating of their ongoing (>6 months) material/social problems as moderately/very stressful on the Chronic Burden Scale. Neighborhood-level stress was measured using a summary score of reverse-coded MESA Neighborhood safety, aesthetic quality, and social cohesion scales. Quantiles of these scores were empirically categorized as high, moderate, or low stress. We then summed these individual- and neighborhood-level categorical variables for a total stress measure. Longitudinal within-person associations were estimated with fixed-effects models, which control for all time-invariant confounding, with additional control for time-varying demographics, lagged behaviors and chronic conditions, and specimen storage duration, as well as correction for regression to the mean. Change from low to high total chronic stress was associated with telomere shortening by 0.054 units [95% confidence interval: -0.095, -0.013] over 10 years. This was consistent with, though stronger in magnitude than, cross-sectional estimates. Change in individual-level stress was the primary driver of this effect. We also found suggestive evidence that 1) individuals with persistently high stress experienced the least shortening of telomeres, and 2) changes in individual-level stress were associated with stronger telomere shortening among women, whereas changes in neighborhood stress were associated with stronger shortening among men. Our findings provide longitudinal support to existing evidence, and point to interesting dynamics in telomere attrition across stress levels and genders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen C S Meier
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1240 N. 10th St., Milwaukee, WI, 53205, USA.
| | - Mustafa Hussein
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1240 N. 10th St., Milwaukee, WI, 53205, USA.
| | - Belinda Needham
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Sharrelle Barber
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and the Urban Health Collaborative, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, 3215 Market St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, 600 16th Street, Room S312F Genentech Hall, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
| | - Teresa Seeman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of California, Los Angeles, 10945 Le Conte Avenue, Suite 2339, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Ana Diez Roux
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and the Urban Health Collaborative, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, 3215 Market St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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25
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Cumulative lifetime stress exposure and leukocyte telomere length attrition: The unique role of stressor duration and exposure timing. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 104:210-218. [PMID: 30884304 PMCID: PMC6518420 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress exposure occurring across the lifespan increases risk for disease, potentially involving telomere length shortening. Stress exposure during childhood and adulthood has been cross-sectionally linked with shorter telomere length. However, few longitudinal studies have examined telomere length attrition over time, and none have investigated how stressor duration (acute life events vs. chronic difficulties), timing (childhood vs. adulthood), and perceived severity may be uniquely related to telomere length shortening. METHODS To address these issues, we administered a standardized instrument for assessing cumulative lifetime stress exposure (Stress and Adversity Inventory; STRAIN) to 175 mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder or neurotypical children and measured their leukocyte telomere length (LTL) at baseline and 2 years later. RESULTS Greater count of lifetime stressors was associated with shorter LTL at baseline and greater LTL attrition over time. When separating lifetime stressors into acute life events and chronic difficulties, only greater count of chronic difficulties significantly predicted shorter baseline LTL and greater LTL attrition. Similarly, when examining timing of stressor exposure, only greater count of chronic childhood difficulties (age < 18) significantly predicted shorter baseline LTL and greater LTL attrition over the 2-year period in mid-life. Importantly, these results were robust while controlling for stressors occurring during the interim 2-year period. Post-hoc analyses suggested that chronic difficulties occurring during earlier childhood (0-12 years) were associated with greater LTL attrition. Cumulative stressor severity predicted LTL attrition in a parallel manner, but was less consistently associated with baseline LTL. CONCLUSIONS These data are the first to examine the effects of different aspects of cumulative lifetime stress exposure on LTL attrition over time, suggesting that accumulated chronic difficulties during childhood may play a unique role in shaping telomere shortening in midlife.
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26
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Highlights From an Expert Meeting on Opportunities for Cancer Prevention Among Older Adults. THE GERONTOLOGIST 2019; 59:S94-S101. [PMID: 31100137 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnz037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper provides highlights from an expert meeting to explore opportunities to reduce cancer risk and promote health at older ages. Factors that increase cancer risk among older adults include exposure to carcinogens from multiple sources, chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes, and unhealthy behaviors. Emerging research points to chronic social stressors - social isolation, loneliness, and financial hardship - as being linked to accelerated biological aging and increased cancer risk later in life. Older adults may disproportionately encounter these stressors as well as barriers to preventive health care services, accurate health information, and environments that promote health. Researchers can use existing cohort studies of older adults to deepen our understanding of the relative benefit of modifying specific behaviors and circumstances. The evidence points to the value of comprehensive, transdisciplinary approaches to promote health and reduce cancer risk across the entire lifespan, extending through older adulthood. Clinical encounters with older adults provide opportunities for psychosocial and behavioral screening and counseling. In the presence of multiple morbidities, preventive health services may offer greater health benefits than cancer-screening tests. Strategies that involve families and caregivers, promote positive attitudes about aging, and engage many different community sectors have the potential to prevent or delay the development of cancer at older ages.
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27
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Boccardi M, Boccardi V. Psychological Wellbeing and Healthy Aging: Focus on Telomeres. Geriatrics (Basel) 2019; 4:geriatrics4010025. [PMID: 31023993 PMCID: PMC6473912 DOI: 10.3390/geriatrics4010025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress and depression are known to modulate the aging process, and might also affect telomere biology. In fact, exposure to some biochemical pathways involved in stress-related depression may contribute to an ‘‘accelerated aging” phenotype, as well as the incidence of age-related diseases, including metabolic disorders and dementia. Basic studies support the notion that the telomere and telomerase system plays a pivotal role in the aging process and disease promotion. Interestingly, short and dysfunctional telomeres are associated with reduced lifespan, as shown in animal models. In this context, telomeres are very sensitive to stress, mindset, and lifestyle, and their rescue may be sufficient to restore cell and organism viability. This mini-review discusses conceptual models of healthy and active aging and their relationship with telomere biology and mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariangela Boccardi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Virginia Boccardi
- Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, 60132 Perugia, Italy.
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28
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Johnson AJ, Terry E, Bartley EJ, Garvan C, Cruz-Almeida Y, Goodin B, Glover TL, Staud R, Bradley LA, Fillingim RB, Sibille KT. Resilience factors may buffer cellular aging in individuals with and without chronic knee pain. Mol Pain 2019; 15:1744806919842962. [PMID: 30900507 PMCID: PMC6484237 DOI: 10.1177/1744806919842962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere length, a measure of cellular aging, is inversely associated with chronic pain severity. While psychological resilience factors (e.g., optimism, acceptance, positive affect, and active coping) are associated with lower levels of clinical pain and greater physical functioning, it is unknown whether resilience may buffer against telomere shortening in individuals with chronic pain. Additionally, a broader conceptualization of resilience that includes social and biobehavioral factors may improve our understanding of the relationship between resilience, chronic pain, and health outcomes. In individuals with and without chronic knee pain, we investigated whether (1) psychological resilience would be positively associated with telomere length and if (2) a broader conceptualization of resilience including social and biobehavioral factors would strengthen the association. Seventy-nine adults, 45 to 85 years of age, with and without knee pain completed demographic, health, clinical pain, psychological, social, and biobehavioral questionnaires. Resilience levels were determined by summing the total number of measures indicating resilience based on published clinical ranges and norms. Blood samples were collected, and telomere length was determined. In regression analyses controlling for sex, race, age, and characteristic pain intensity, greater psychological resilience and psychosocial/biobehavioral resilience were associated with longer telomeres ( p = .0295 and p = .0116, respectively). When compared, psychosocial/biobehavioral resilience was significantly more predictive of telomere length than psychological resilience ( p < .0001). Findings are promising and encourage further investigations to enhance understanding of the biological interface of psychosocial and biobehavioral resilience factors in individuals with musculoskeletal chronic pain conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisa J Johnson
- Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ellen Terry
- Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Emily J Bartley
- Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Cynthia Garvan
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yenisel Cruz-Almeida
- Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Burel Goodin
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | - Toni L Glover
- College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Roland Staud
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Laurence A Bradley
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | - Roger B Fillingim
- Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kimberly T Sibille
- Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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29
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Conklin QA, Crosswell AD, Saron CD, Epel ES. Meditation, stress processes, and telomere biology. Curr Opin Psychol 2018; 28:92-101. [PMID: 30553080 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Both theoretical and empirical work support the notion that meditation training can improve telomere regulation, which may ultimately contribute to healthy aging. Yet, the psychological and biological mechanisms underlying these changes remain underspecified, as do the contexts and boundary conditions in which these changes occur. Here we summarize studies investigating the effects of various meditation-based interventions on telomere biology, making suggestions for future research. We then propose a model describing how meditation training may impact acute and habitual stress responses as pathways to improved cell aging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Elissa S Epel
- University of California, San Francisco, United States.
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30
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Mahendran R, Gandhi M, Moorakonda RB, Wong J, Kanchi MM, Fam J, Rawtaer I, Kumar AP, Feng L, Kua EH. Art therapy is associated with sustained improvement in cognitive function in the elderly with mild neurocognitive disorder: findings from a pilot randomized controlled trial for art therapy and music reminiscence activity versus usual care. Trials 2018; 19:615. [PMID: 30413216 PMCID: PMC6230219 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-018-2988-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a phase in cognitive decline when it is still possible to intervene to reverse the decline. Cognitive stimulation delivered through psychosocial interventions provides both psychological intervention and social stimulation to improve cognition. A pilot open-label parallel-arms randomized controlled trial was undertaken to examine the effects of art therapy (AT) and music reminiscence activity (MRA) compared to the control, on the primary outcome of neurocognitive domain assessments in elderly people with MCI. METHODS Community-living elderly people with MCI (Petersen's criteria), assessed for study eligibility, were randomized using a web-based system with equal allocation to two intervention arms: AT (guided viewing of art pieces and production of visual arts) and MRA (listening, and recalling memories related to music) and a control arm (standard care without any intervention). Interventions were led by trained therapists weekly for 3 months, then fortnightly for 6 months. Neurocognitive domains (mean of memory, attention, and visuo-spatial abilities standardized scores), psychological wellbeing (subsyndromal depression and anxiety) and telomere length as a biological marker of cellular ageing, were assessed by intervention-blinded assessors at baseline, 3 months and 9 months. RESULTS In total, 250 people were screened and 68 were randomized and included in the analysis. In the AT arm, neurocognitive domains improved compared to the control arm at 3 months (mean difference (d) = 0.40; 90% CI 0.126, 0.679) and were sustained at 9 months (d = 0.31; 90% CI 0.068, 0.548). There was some improvement in depression and anxiety at 3 and 9 months and in telomere length at 9 months, but this was not significant. Similar improvements were observed in the MRA arm over the control arm, but they were not significant. There were no intervention-related adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS Art therapy delivered by trained staff as "art as therapy" and "art psychotherapy" may have been the significant contributor to cognitive improvements. The findings support cognitive stimulation for elderly people with cognitive decline and signal the need for larger studies and further investigation of carefully designed psycho-social interventions for this group. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trials.gov, NCT02854085 . Registered on 7 July 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rathi Mahendran
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, Level 9, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119228 Singapore
- Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, NUHS Tower Block, Level 9, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, Singapore
- Academic Development Department, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mihir Gandhi
- Department of Biostatistics, Singapore Clinical Research Institute, 31 Biopolis Way, Singapore, Singapore
- Centre of Quantitative Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore, Singapore
- Tampere Center for Child Health Research, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Rajesh Babu Moorakonda
- Department of Biostatistics, Singapore Clinical Research Institute, 31 Biopolis Way, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jonathan Wong
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, Level 9, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119228 Singapore
| | - Madhu Mathi Kanchi
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Johnson Fam
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, Level 9, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119228 Singapore
- Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, NUHS Tower Block, Level 9, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Iris Rawtaer
- Department of Psychiatry, Sengkang General Hospital, 110 Sengkang East Way, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alan Prem Kumar
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore, Singapore
- Medical Science Cluster, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lei Feng
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, Level 9, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119228 Singapore
- Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, NUHS Tower Block, Level 9, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ee Heok Kua
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, Level 9, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119228 Singapore
- Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, NUHS Tower Block, Level 9, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, Singapore
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31
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Conklin QA, King BG, Zanesco AP, Lin J, Hamidi AB, Pokorny JJ, Álvarez-López MJ, Cosín-Tomás M, Huang C, Kaliman P, Epel ES, Saron CD. Insight meditation and telomere biology: The effects of intensive retreat and the moderating role of personality. Brain Behav Immun 2018. [PMID: 29518528 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2018.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of evidence suggests that meditation training may have a range of salubrious effects, including improved telomere regulation. Telomeres and the enzyme telomerase interact with a variety of molecular components to regulate cell-cycle signaling cascades, and are implicated in pathways linking psychological stress to disease. We investigated the effects of intensive meditation practice on these biomarkers by measuring changes in telomere length (TL), telomerase activity (TA), and telomere-related gene (TRG) expression during a 1-month residential Insight meditation retreat. Multilevel analyses revealed an apparent TL increase in the retreat group, compared to a group of experienced meditators, similarly comprised in age and gender, who were not on retreat. Moreover, personality traits predicted changes in TL, such that retreat participants highest in neuroticism and lowest in agreeableness demonstrated the greatest increases in TL. Changes observed in TRGs further suggest retreat-related improvements in telomere maintenance, including increases in Gar1 and HnRNPA1, which encode proteins that bind telomerase RNA and telomeric DNA. Although no group-level changes were observed in TA, retreat participants' TA levels at post-assessment were inversely related to several indices of retreat engagement and prior meditation experience. Neuroticism also predicted variation in TA across retreat. These findings suggest that meditation training in a retreat setting may have positive effects on telomere regulation, which are moderated by individual differences in personality and meditation experience. (ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT03056105).
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Affiliation(s)
- Quinn A Conklin
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis, 267 Cousteau Place, Davis, CA 95618, United States; Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, 135 Young Hall, Davis, CA 95616, United States.
| | - Brandon G King
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis, 267 Cousteau Place, Davis, CA 95618, United States; Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, 135 Young Hall, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Anthony P Zanesco
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis, 267 Cousteau Place, Davis, CA 95618, United States; Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, 135 Young Hall, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, 600 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
| | - Anahita B Hamidi
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis, 267 Cousteau Place, Davis, CA 95618, United States; Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, 1544 Newton Court, Davis, CA 95618, United States
| | - Jennifer J Pokorny
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis, 267 Cousteau Place, Davis, CA 95618, United States
| | | | - Marta Cosín-Tomás
- Unit of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Colin Huang
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, 600 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
| | - Perla Kaliman
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis, 267 Cousteau Place, Davis, CA 95618, United States; Unit of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Elissa S Epel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, 401 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94131, United States
| | - Clifford D Saron
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis, 267 Cousteau Place, Davis, CA 95618, United States; MIND Institute, University of California, Davis Medical Center, 2825 50th St, Sacramento, CA 95817, United States
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Faye C, McGowan JC, Denny CA, David DJ. Neurobiological Mechanisms of Stress Resilience and Implications for the Aged Population. Curr Neuropharmacol 2018; 16:234-270. [PMID: 28820053 PMCID: PMC5843978 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x15666170818095105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Revised: 06/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress is a common reaction to an environmental adversity, but a dysregulation of the stress response can lead to psychiatric illnesses such as major depressive disorder (MDD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders. Yet, not all individuals exposed to stress will develop psychiatric disorders; those with enhanced stress resilience mechanisms have the ability to adapt successfully to stress without developing persistent psychopathology. Notably, the potential to enhance stress resilience in at-risk populations may prevent the onset of stress-induced psychiatric disorders. This novel idea has prompted a number of studies probing the mechanisms of stress resilience and how it can be manipulated. METHODS Here, we review the neurobiological factors underlying stress resilience, with particular focus on the serotoninergic (5-HT), glutamatergic, and γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) systems, as well as the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA) in rodents and in humans. Finally, we discuss stress resiliency in the context of aging, as the likelihood of mood disorders increases in older adults. RESULTS Interestingly, increased resiliency has been shown to slow aging and improved overall health and quality of life. Research in the neurobiology of stress resilience, particularly throughout the aging process, is a nascent, yet, burgeoning field. CONCLUSION Overall, we consider the possible methods that may be used to induce resilient phenotypes, prophylactically in at-risk populations, such as in military personnel or in older MDD patients. Research in the mechanisms of stress resilience may not only elucidate novel targets for antidepressant treatments, but also provide novel insight about how to prevent these debilitating disorders from developing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlène Faye
- CESP/UMR-S 1178, Univ. Paris-Sud, Fac Pharmacie, Inserm, Université Paris-Saclay, 92296 Chatenay-Malabry, France
| | - Josephine C. McGowan
- Doctoral Program in Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christine A. Denny
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Integrative Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute/Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc., New York, NY, USA
| | - Denis J. David
- CESP/UMR-S 1178, Univ. Paris-Sud, Fac Pharmacie, Inserm, Université Paris-Saclay, 92296 Chatenay-Malabry, France
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Epel ES, Prather AA. Stress, Telomeres, and Psychopathology: Toward a Deeper Understanding of a Triad of Early Aging. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2018; 14:371-397. [PMID: 29494257 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032816-045054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres play an important part in aging and show relationships to lifetime adversity, particularly childhood adversity. Meta-analyses demonstrate reliable associations between psychopathology (primarily depression) and shorter telomere length, but the nature of this relationship has not been fully understood. Here, we review and evaluate the evidence for impaired telomere biology as a consequence of psychopathology or as a contributing factor, and the important mediating roles of chronic psychological stress and impaired allostasis. There is evidence for a triadic relationship among stress, telomere shortening, and psychiatric disorders that is positively reinforcing and unfolds across the life course and, possibly, across generations. We review the role of genetics and biobehavioral responses that may contribute to shorter telomere length, as well as the neurobiological impact of impaired levels of telomerase. These complex interrelationships are important to elucidate because they have implications for mental and physical comorbidity and, potentially, for the prevention and treatment of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aric A Prather
- Department of Psychiatry; Center for Health and Community; Aging, Metabolism, and Emotions Center; University of California, San Francisco, California 94118, USA; ,
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Dershem R, Chu X, Wood GC, Benotti P, Still CD, Rolston DD. Response to 'Regression to the mean, apparent data errors, and biologically extraordinary results'. Int J Obes (Lond) 2017; 42:951. [PMID: 29257801 DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2017.300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R Dershem
- Geisinger Obesity Research Institute, Geisinger, Danville, PA, USA.,Weis Center for Research, Geisinger, Danville, PA, USA
| | - X Chu
- Geisinger Obesity Research Institute, Geisinger, Danville, PA, USA
| | - G C Wood
- Geisinger Obesity Research Institute, Geisinger, Danville, PA, USA
| | - P Benotti
- Geisinger Obesity Research Institute, Geisinger, Danville, PA, USA
| | - C D Still
- Geisinger Obesity Research Institute, Geisinger, Danville, PA, USA
| | - D D Rolston
- Department of Internal Medicine, Geisinger, Danville, PA, USA
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Telomeres, Aging and Exercise: Guilty by Association? Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18122573. [PMID: 29186077 PMCID: PMC5751176 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18122573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Revised: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are repetitive tandem DNA sequences that cap chromosomal ends protecting genomic DNA from enzymatic degradation. Telomeres progressively shorten with cellular replication and are therefore assumed to correlate with biological and chronological age. An expanding body of evidence suggests (i) a predictable inverse association between telomere length, aging and age-related diseases and (ii) a positive association between physical activity and telomere length. Both hypotheses have garnered tremendous research attention and broad consensus; however, the evidence for each proposition is inconsistent and equivocal at best. Telomere length does not meet the basic criteria for an aging biomarker and at least 50% of key studies fail to find associations with physical activity. In this review, we address the evidence in support and refutation of the putative associations between telomere length, aging and physical activity. We finish with a brief review of plausible mechanisms and potential future research directions.
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Coimbra BM, Carvalho CM, Moretti PN, Mello MF, Belangero SI. Stress-related telomere length in children: A systematic review. J Psychiatr Res 2017; 92:47-54. [PMID: 28407508 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Revised: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences at the ends of chromatids that shorten following each cell replication. Once telomeres reach a critical length, DNA defense mechanisms can direct cells to either a state of arrest (senescence) or apoptosis. Stress induced by adversity is a probable cause of accelerated telomere shortening from an early age. However, few studies have examined the association between stress and telomere length in children, and it remains unclear whether young individuals may show signs of cellular aging early in life. Our aim was to examine whether adversity in childhood is associated with shortening of telomere length. We conducted a systematic review of studies that investigated the association between stress and telomere length in children from 3 to 15 years of age. Eleven studies met our selection criteria. We concluded that adversity in childhood (such as violence, low socioeconomic status, maternal depression, family disruption, and institutionalization) have an impact on telomere length. This suggests that exposed individuals show signs of accelerated erosion of telomeric ends from an early age. We discuss whether telomere shortening is related to negative health outcomes later in life or could be a biomarker predicting health outcomes. We believe that further large-scale longitudinal studies that repeatedly monitor telomere length are very important for providing a better assessment of telomere trajectory in psychologically stressed children. This will verify the extent to which adversity impacts upon the biological development of cell aging in childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Messina Coimbra
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolina Muniz Carvalho
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; LINC, Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Neurosciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patricia Natalia Moretti
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade de Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Feijó Mello
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sintia I Belangero
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; LINC, Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Neurosciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
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Köse Çinar R. Telomere length and hTERT in mania and subsequent remission. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 40:19-25. [PMID: 28700015 PMCID: PMC6899417 DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2017-2216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The findings of telomere length (TL) studies in bipolar disorder (BD) are controversial. The aim of the present study was to detect TL, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in severe mania and subsequent remission. METHODS Twenty-one medication-free male patients and 20 age and gender matched controls were recruited. The patients were followed in the inpatient clinic, and comparisons were made between the same patients in their remission state and controls. Patients received lithium plus antipsychotics during the follow-up period. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to verify leukocyte TL and whole blood hTERT gene expression levels. Serum BDNF levels were verified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS Compared to controls, manic patients presented shorter telomeres (p < 0.001) whose length increased with treatment (p = 0.001). Patients in the late stages showed shorter TL than those in the early stages and controls (p < 0.001). hTERT gene expression levels were up-regulated in mania and remission compared to controls (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively). BDNF changes did not reach statistically significant levels. CONCLUSIONS TL and hTERT gene expression might reflect a novel aspect of BD pathophysiology and TL might represent a novel biomarker for BD staging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rugül Köse Çinar
- Department of Psychiatry, Trakya University Faculty of Medicine, Edirne, Turkey
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38
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Dershem R, Chu X, Wood GC, Benotti P, Still CD, Rolston DD. Changes in telomere length 3-5 years after gastric bypass surgery. Int J Obes (Lond) 2017; 41:1718-1720. [PMID: 28676678 PMCID: PMC5675791 DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2017.156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2016] [Revised: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 06/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Increased inflammation and oxidative stress associated with obesity can accelerate aging. Telomere length (TL) has the capacity to serve as an aging indicator at the cellular level. Obesity has a known association with shorter TL. This study evaluated TL of immune cells in a population of obese individuals who underwent gastric bypass surgery. Pre and post-operative DNA samples were available for 50 subjects who had gastric bypass surgery. DNA was analyzed via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) to determine TL. Changes in TL were evaluated by comparing TL at baseline to TL at 3-5 years post gastric bypass surgery. Sixty percent of the individuals in the study observed an increase in TL. Significant lengthening was observed for those with the shortest baseline TL (p=0.0011), but not for those with intermediate baseline TL (p=0.411) or longest baseline TL (p=0.207). Change in TL was negatively correlated with age and triglycerides but not correlated with weight loss induced by bariatric surgery. This study confirms that TL lengthening is observed post bariatric surgery and is the first to detect TL lengthening 3-5 years after surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Dershem
- Geisinger Obesity Research Institute, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, PA, USA.,Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, PA, USA
| | - X Chu
- Geisinger Obesity Research Institute, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, PA, USA
| | - G C Wood
- Geisinger Obesity Research Institute, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, PA, USA
| | - P Benotti
- Geisinger Obesity Research Institute, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, PA, USA
| | - C D Still
- Geisinger Obesity Research Institute, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, PA, USA
| | - D D Rolston
- Department of Internal Medicine, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, PA, USA
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García-Calzón S, Moleres A, Gómez-Martinez S, Diaz LE, Bueno G, Campoy C, Martinez JA, Marcos A, Azcona-Sanjulián MC, Zalba G, Marti A. Association of telomere length with IL-6 levels during an obesity treatment in adolescents: interaction with the-174G/C polymorphism in the IL-6gene. Pediatr Obes 2017; 12:257-263. [PMID: 27071798 DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2015] [Revised: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Shorter telomeres have been associated with elevated risk for age-related diseases. However, little is known about the biomarker role of telomere length (TL) for predicting inflammation and glucose alterations. OBJECTIVE The objective of this research is to evaluate the association between TL, inflammatory markers and glucose levels after a 2-month weight-loss programme in obese adolescents. METHODS Telomere length was measured using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 66 obese adolescents aged 12-17 years (51% men) from the EVASYON programme. The adolescents were genotyped for the polymorphism -174G/C (rs1800795) in the IL-6gene, and anthropometric and biochemical markers as well as inflammatory cytokines were analysed. RESULTS Multiple-adjusted models showed that longer telomeres at baseline were associated with a higher reduction in glucose (B = -4.08, 95% confidence interval: -6.66 to -1.50) and IL-6 (B = -1.03, 95% confidence interval: -2.01 to -0.05) serum levels after 2 months of the weight-loss treatment. The -174G/C polymorphism modulated the association between basal TL and changes in IL-6 (P interaction = 0.029). Thus, subjects with the GG + GC genotype and with longer telomeres showed a higher decrease in IL-6 levels than CC homozygotes. CONCLUSION Longer telomeres are associated with an improvement in glucose tolerance and inflammation after a weight-loss programme in obese adolescents. Moreover, the -174G/C polymorphism may influence the relationship between TL and IL-6 changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S García-Calzón
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Physiology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,IdiSNA Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - S Gómez-Martinez
- Immunonutrition Research Group, Department of Metabolism and Nutrition, Institute of Food Science, Technology, and Nutrition, Spanish National Research Council, Madrid, Spain
| | - L E Diaz
- Immunonutrition Research Group, Department of Metabolism and Nutrition, Institute of Food Science, Technology, and Nutrition, Spanish National Research Council, Madrid, Spain
| | - G Bueno
- Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - C Campoy
- Pediatric Department, Medicine School, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - J A Martinez
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Physiology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,IdiSNA Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - A Marcos
- Immunonutrition Research Group, Department of Metabolism and Nutrition, Institute of Food Science, Technology, and Nutrition, Spanish National Research Council, Madrid, Spain
| | - M C Azcona-Sanjulián
- Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University of Navarra Hospital, Pamplona, Spain
| | - G Zalba
- IdiSNA Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - A Marti
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Physiology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,IdiSNA Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Aoki Y, Aoki M, Yamada K. Leukocyte Telomere Length and Serum Levels of High-Molecular-Weight Adiponectin and Dehydroepiandrosterone-Sulfate Could Reflect Distinct Aspects of Longevity in Japanese Centenarians. Gerontol Geriatr Med 2017; 3:2333721417696672. [PMID: 28540339 PMCID: PMC5433671 DOI: 10.1177/2333721417696672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2016] [Revised: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Leukocyte telomere length and serum levels of high-molecular-weight adiponectin and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) were assessed in association with nutrition and performance status (PS) in Japanese centenarians. Twenty-three centenarians (five men, 18 women) were classified according to their PS 1 (nearly fully ambulatory, n = 2), 2 (in bed less than 50% of daytime, n = 10), 3 (in bed greater than 50%, n = 6), and 4 (completely bedridden, n = 5). Leukocyte telomere length was determined by the hybridization protection assay, and the adiponectin and DHEA-S levels were measured by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay. Among variables of PS, body mass index (BMI), albumin, adiponectin, DHEA-S, and telomere length, there were significant correlations between PS and albumin (r = −.694, p < .01), between telomere length and BMI (r = .522, p < .05), between adiponectin and BMI (r = −.574, p < .01), and between DHEA-S and albumin (r = .530, p < .01). When excluding two cancer-bearing centenarians with short telomere, telomere length significantly correlated with PS (r = −.632, p < .01). It was indicated that the short leukocyte telomere was associated with poor PS and cancer development and that the adiponectin or DHEA-S was associated with adiposity or nutritional status. Despite a small number of subjects, these biomarkers seemed to reflect distinct aspects of longevity in Japanese centenarians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Aoki
- Matsumoto Hospital, Matsumoto, Japan
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41
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Hanssen LM, Schutte NS, Malouff JM, Epel ES. The Relationship Between Childhood Psychosocial Stressor Level and Telomere Length: A Meta-Analysis. Health Psychol Res 2017; 5:6378. [PMID: 28603779 PMCID: PMC5452631 DOI: 10.4081/hpr.2017.6378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This meta-analysis examined the association between the level of childhood psychosocial stressors and telomere length, an important health biomarker. The meta-analysis, including 27 samples and 16,238 participants, found a significant association of -0.08 between a higher level of childhood stressors and shorter telomere length at a mean age of 42 across studies. Moderator analyses showed a trend in the direction of effect sizes being significantly larger with shorter times between the stressors and telomere measurement. Moderator analyses showed significantly higher effect sizes for studies that used a categorical method for assessing child stressor level and for assays completed with qPCR rather than with the Southern blot method. There was no significant moderation of effect size by whether study assayed leukocytes or buccal cells, whether the study assessed child stressor level by memory-based recall versus archival records, and whether the study controlled for age, sex, or additional variables. The results, focused on childhood events, add to prior findings that perceived stress and negative emotions are associated with telomere length.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - John M Malouff
- Department of Psychology, University of New England, Australia
| | - Elissa S Epel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Sibille KT, Chen H, Bartley EJ, Riley J, Glover TL, King CD, Zhang H, Cruz-Almeida Y, Goodin BR, Sotolongo A, Petrov ME, Herbert M, Bulls HW, Edberg JC, Staud R, Redden D, Bradley LA, Fillingim RB. Accelerated aging in adults with knee osteoarthritis pain: consideration for frequency, intensity, time, and total pain sites. Pain Rep 2017; 2:e591. [PMID: 29392207 PMCID: PMC5741297 DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000000591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) show increased morbidity and mortality. Telomere length, a measure of cellular aging, predicts increased morbidity and mortality. Telomeres shorten with persisting biological and psychosocial stress. Living with chronic OA pain is stressful. Previous research exploring telomere length in people with OA has produced inconsistent results. Considering pain severity may clarify the relationship between OA and telomeres. OBJECTIVES We hypothesized that individuals with high OA chronic pain severity would have shorter telomeres than those with no or low chronic pain severity. METHODS One hundred thirty-six adults, ages 45 to 85 years old, with and without symptomatic knee OA were included in the analysis. Peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length was measured, and demographic, clinical, and functional data were collected. Participants were categorized into 5 pain severity groups based on an additive index of frequency, intensity, time or duration, and total number of pain sites (FITT). Covariates included age, sex, race or ethnicity, study site, and knee pain status. RESULTS The no or low chronic pain severity group had significantly longer telomeres compared with the high pain severity group, P = 0.025. A significant chronic pain severity dose response emerged for telomere length, P = 0.034. The FITT chronic pain severity index was highly correlated with the clinical and functional OA pain measures. However, individual clinical and functional measures were not associated with telomere length. CONCLUSION Results demonstrate accelerated cellular aging with high knee OA chronic pain severity and provide evidence for the potential utility of the FITT chronic pain severity index in capturing the biological burden of chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly T. Sibille
- Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Huaihou Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Emily J. Bartley
- Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Joseph Riley
- Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Toni L. Glover
- Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Christopher D. King
- Department of Anesthesia, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Hang Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yenisel Cruz-Almeida
- Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Burel R. Goodin
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Adriana Sotolongo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Megan E. Petrov
- College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Matthew Herbert
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health (CESAMH), VA San Diego Healthcare System and University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Hailey W. Bulls
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jeffrey C. Edberg
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Roland Staud
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - David Redden
- Biostatistics Department, School of Public Health University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Laurence A. Bradley
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Roger B. Fillingim
- Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Wolkowitz OM, Jeste DV, Martin AS, Lin J, Daly RE, Reuter C, Kraemer H. Leukocyte telomere length: Effects of schizophrenia, age, and gender. J Psychiatr Res 2017; 85:42-48. [PMID: 27835738 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Revised: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia is linked with early medical comorbidity and mortality. These observations indicate possible "accelerated biological aging" in schizophrenia, although prior findings are mixed, and few such studies have examined the role of gender. One putative marker of biological aging is leukocyte telomere length (LTL), which typically shortens with age. METHODS We assessed LTL in phenotypically well characterized 134 individuals with schizophrenia (60 women and 74 men) and 123 healthy comparison subjects (HCs) (66 women and 57 men), aged 26 to 65 years. RESULTS Overall, LTL was inversely associated with age (t(249) = -6.2, p < 0.001), and a gender effect on the rate of LTL decrease with age was found (t(249) = 2.20, p = 0.029), with men declining more rapidly than women. No significant overall effect of diagnosis on the rate of decline was detected. However, at the average sample age (48 years), there was a significant gender effect in both schizophrenia and HC groups (t(249) = 2.48, p = 0.014), with women having longer LTL than men, and a significant gender X diagnosis effect (t(249) = 2.43, p = 0.016) - at the average sample age, women with schizophrenia had shorter LTL than HC women. DISCUSSION Gender, not the diagnosis of schizophrenia, was the major factor involved with LTL shortening across the age range studied. We discuss the constraints of a cross-sectional design and other methodological issues, and indicate future directions. Understanding the impact of schizophrenia on biological aging will require separate evaluations in men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Owen M Wolkowitz
- University of California San Francisco School of Medicine (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Dilip V Jeste
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093-0738, USA.
| | - Averria Sirkin Martin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093-0738, USA
| | - Jue Lin
- University of California San Francisco School of Medicine (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca E Daly
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093-0738, USA
| | - Chase Reuter
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093-0738, USA
| | - Helena Kraemer
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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Black JM, Hoeft F. Utilizing biopsychosocial and strengths-based approaches within the field of child health: what we know and where we can grow. New Dir Child Adolesc Dev 2016; 2015:13-20. [PMID: 25732011 DOI: 10.1002/cad.20089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We continue to increase our understanding of the experiences and settings that contribute to positive developmental outcomes in childhood, and those that confer greater risk. Although the mechanisms by which the risk and protective factors affect developmental outcomes need to be further elucidated through research, converging findings from the field of child health (spanning both physical and mental health) indicate that a biopsychosocial approach is useful. Here, we examine the evidence that early experiences confer both risk and protective processes on biopsychosocial development in childhood, and touch on some implications for the life course. Although this interdisciplinary field of research has already garnered substantial attention, here we aim to highlight the opportunity to use a strengths-based approach with the biopsychosocial model, with particular focus on children who experience prolonged stress. We close with consideration for future directions with an emphasis on policy and practice in clinical and educational settings to improve well-being in these early stages of the life course.
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Malouff JM, Schutte NS. A meta-analysis of the relationship between anxiety and telomere length. ANXIETY STRESS AND COPING 2016; 30:264-272. [PMID: 27844481 DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2016.1261286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, and shorter telomeres are associated with poor physical health. The present study set out to consolidate the varying effect sizes found so far in studies of anxiety and telomere length. DESIGN AND METHODS A meta-analytic investigation of the relationship between anxiety and telomere length used information from 17 different samples comprising a total of 19,424 participants. RESULTS The results showed a small but significant association, r = -.06, between higher anxiety and shorter telomeres. Studies comparing individuals diagnosed with an anxiety disorder with other individuals had a significant effect size, and studies that did not use this comparison threshold did not have a significant effect size. CONCLUSIONS Anxiety is associated with an important biomarker related to health. Future experimental studies that examine the impact of interventions intended to reduce anxiety in conjunction with measurement of telomere length can further clarify the impact of anxiety on telomere length.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Malouff
- a Department of Psychology , University of New England , Armidale , Australia
| | - Nicola S Schutte
- a Department of Psychology , University of New England , Armidale , Australia
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46
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Edwards AC, Aggen SH, Cai N, Bigdeli TB, Peterson RE, Docherty AR, Webb BT, Bacanu SA, Flint J, Kendler KS. CHRONICITY OF DEPRESSION AND MOLECULAR MARKERS IN A LARGE SAMPLE OF HAN CHINESE WOMEN. Depress Anxiety 2016; 33:1048-1054. [PMID: 27110890 PMCID: PMC5079854 DOI: 10.1002/da.22517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 04/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder (MDD) has been associated with changes in mean telomere length and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number. This study investigates if clinical features of MDD differentially impact these molecular markers. METHODS Data from a large, clinically ascertained sample of Han Chinese women with recurrent MDD were used to examine whether symptom presentation, severity, and comorbidity were related to salivary telomere length and/or mtDNA copy number (maximum N = 5,284 for both molecular and phenotypic data). RESULTS Structural equation modeling revealed that duration of longest episode was positively associated with mtDNA copy number, while earlier age of onset of most severe episode and a history of dysthymia were associated with shorter telomeres. Other factors, such as symptom presentation, family history of depression, and other comorbid internalizing disorders, were not associated with these molecular markers. CONCLUSIONS Chronicity of depressive symptoms is related to more pronounced telomere shortening and increased mtDNA copy number among individuals with a history of recurrent MDD. As these molecular markers have previously been implicated in physiological aging and morbidity, individuals who experience prolonged depressive symptoms are potentially at greater risk of adverse medical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis C. Edwards
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, US,Corresponding author: Alexis C. Edwards, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980126, Richmond, VA, US 23298-0126; ; ph: +1 804-828-8591, fax: +1 804-828-1471
| | - Steven H. Aggen
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, US
| | - Na Cai
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, UK
| | - Tim B. Bigdeli
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, US
| | - Roseann E. Peterson
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, US
| | - Anna R. Docherty
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, US
| | - Bradley T. Webb
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, US
| | - Silviu-Alin Bacanu
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, US
| | - Jonathan Flint
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Kenneth S. Kendler
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, US
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Schutte NS, Malouff JM. The Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Telomere Length: A Meta-analysis. Stress Health 2016; 32:313-319. [PMID: 25393133 DOI: 10.1002/smi.2607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2014] [Revised: 07/29/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes, and short telomere length is associated with poor health and mortality. This study reports a meta-analytic investigation of the relationship between perceived stress and telomere length, including results from eight studies with a total of 1143 participants. A meta-analytic effect size of r = -0.25, p < 0.001, indicated that higher levels of perceived stress were associated with shorter telomere length. Examination of the studies for moderators of effect size identified some significant moderators, such as a difference in effect sizes between samples comprised of only women and mixed-sex samples. These results are only suggestive as they are based on a small set of studies, and funnel plot analyses indicated a publication bias. A significant relationship between more perceived stress and shorter telomere length is consistent with theoretical frameworks positing that stress induces physiological changes that result in shortened telomeres. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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48
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Schutte NS, Palanisamy SKA, McFarlane JR. The relationship between positive psychological characteristics and longer telomeres. Psychol Health 2016; 31:1466-1480. [PMID: 27616348 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2016.1226308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Longer telomeres are associated with better health and longevity. This research investigated the relationship between positive psychological dispositional traits and telomere length. Positive traits examined were typical high positive affect, typical low negative affect, life satisfaction, trait mindfulness, trait emotional intelligence, general self-efficacy and optimism. DESIGN AND MEASURES One hundred and twenty women and men, with a mean age of 40.92, completed measures of positive characteristics and provided samples for telomere length analysis. RESULTS Together the positive dispositional characteristics explained significant variance in telomere length, R = .40. Among the individual characteristics, greater optimism and higher emotional intelligence were associated with longer telomeres after adjustment for age and gender and the association between optimism and telomere length remained significant after adjusting for age and gender as well as the other positive characteristics, with a partial correlation r of .30. CONCLUSION These results in conjunction with previous research findings provide a platform for further exploration of biological pathways connecting positive characteristics such as optimism to telomere length and investigation of the impact of increasing a characteristic such as optimism on telomere functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Suresh K A Palanisamy
- b Centre for Bioactive Discovery in Health and Ageing, School of Science and Technology , University of New England , Armidale , Australia
| | - James R McFarlane
- b Centre for Bioactive Discovery in Health and Ageing, School of Science and Technology , University of New England , Armidale , Australia
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Révész D, Milaneschi Y, Terpstra EM, Penninx BWJH. Baseline biopsychosocial determinants of telomere length and 6-year attrition rate. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2016; 67:153-62. [PMID: 26897704 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Short leukocyte telomere length (TL) and accelerated telomere attrition have been associated with various deleterious health outcomes, although their determinants have not been explored collectively in a large-scale study. MATERIAL AND METHODS Leukocyte TL was measured (baseline N=2936; 6-year follow-up N=1860) in participants (18-65 years) from the NESDA study. Baseline determinants of TL included sociodemographics, lifestyle, chronic diseases, psychosocial stressors, and metabolic and physiological stress markers. Multivariate linear regression models were used to examine the associations between these determinants and (1) baseline TL, and (2) 6-year TL change. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine the predictors of telomere attrition and lengthening, as compared to stable TL. RESULTS Short baseline TL was associated with older age, male sex, non-European ethnicity, cigarette smoking, recent life events, and higher triglycerides, glucose and pre-ejection period (R(2)=11.3%). The 6-year telomere attrition was inversely associated with baseline TL (R(2)=51.6%); also older age, long sleep, not having a partner, high childhood trauma index, and gastrointestinal disease were associated with 6-year TL attrition (additional R(2)=3.7%). Telomere attrition seemed to have slightly more predictors than lengthening. CONCLUSIONS Sociodemographic, lifestyle, psychosocial stress and metabolic and physiological stress factors are cross-sectionally linked with TL. Telomere attrition over six years was strongly associated with baseline TL, suggesting an internal homeostatic influence. Modulation of the identified determinants may become target of future studies to promote telomere maintenance and healthy aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dóra Révész
- Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Yuri Milaneschi
- Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Erik M Terpstra
- Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Brenda W J H Penninx
- Department of Psychiatry, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Whisman MA, Robustelli BL, Sbarra DA. Marital disruption is associated with shorter salivary telomere length in a probability sample of older adults. Soc Sci Med 2016; 157:60-7. [PMID: 27062452 PMCID: PMC4883574 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Revised: 03/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Marital disruption (i.e., marital separation, divorce) is associated with a wide range of poor mental and physical health outcomes, including increased risk for all-cause mortality. One biological intermediary that may help explain the association between marital disruption and poor health is accelerated cellular aging. OBJECTIVE This study examines the association between marital disruption and salivary telomere length in a United States probability sample of adults ≥50 years of age. METHOD Participants were 3526 individuals who participated in the 2008 wave of the Health and Retirement Study. Telomere length assays were performed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) on DNA extracted from saliva samples. Health and lifestyle factors, traumatic and stressful life events, and neuroticism were assessed via self-report. Linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between predictor variables and salivary telomere length. RESULTS Based on their marital status data in the 2006 wave, people who were separated or divorced had shorter salivary telomeres than people who were continuously married or had never been married, and the association between marital disruption and salivary telomere length was not moderated by gender or neuroticism. Furthermore, the association between marital disruption and salivary telomere length remained statistically significant after adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic variables, neuroticism, cigarette use, body mass, traumatic life events, and other stressful life events. Additionally, results revealed that currently married adults with a history of divorce evidenced shorter salivary telomeres than people who were continuously married or never married. CONCLUSION Accelerated cellular aging, as indexed by telomere shortening, may be one pathway through which marital disruption is associated with morbidity and mortality.
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