No associations between telomere length and age-sensitive indicators of physical function in mid and later life.
Telomere length, which declines with age, has been hypothesized to act as an indicator of biological aging. If it fulfills this purpose, shorter telomere length should correlate with age-related loss of physical function, independent of age. In this cross-sectional Australian population study, the associations between peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length and age-sensitive indicators of physical function (lung function, blood pressure, and grip strength) were examined in two narrow age range cohorts aged 44-49 years (n = 351) and 64-70 years (n = 295). Telomere length was correlated with systolic blood pressure but only for women of the younger cohort and in the opposite direction to that expected (partial r = .181, p = .017). This evidence does not provide support for the hypothesis that telomere length is related to age-associated changes in physical function.
Mather
Karen Anne
KA
Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. karen.mather@unsw.edu.au
Jorm
Anthony Francis
AF
Milburn
Peter John
PJ
Tan
Xiaoyun
X
Easteal
Simon
S
Christensen
Helen
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D015415:Biomarkers; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013599:Systole; D016615:Telomere
D015415:Biomarkers