title: Associations between early life stress, self-reported traumatic experiences across the lifespan and leukocyte telomere length in elderly adults.
abstract: Early life stress (ELS) poses a risk for mental disorders and aging-related diseases. Accelerated biological aging, reflected in shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL), may underlie these risks. We examined whether objectively recorded ELS and retrospectively self-reported traumatic experiences across the lifespan are associated with LTL in later adulthood. Of 1486 participants, 215 had been exposed to ELS, namely to temporary separation from both parents in childhood. Participants self-reported emotionally or physically traumatic experiences across the lifespan at a mean age of 63.2 years. LTL was measured using a quantitative PCR method at a mean age of 61.5 years. Separation or self-reported traumatic experiences were not associated with LTL. However, separated participants who self-reported traumatic experiences had shorter LTL. Our results suggest that while ELS or self-reported traumatic experiences are not per se associated with LTL measured decades later, ELS may in combination with self-reported traumatic events be associated with accelerated biological aging.
authors: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: katri.savolainen@helsinki.fi.
authors: Katri
authors: K
authors: Savolainen
authors: Diabetes Prevention Unit, Department of Chronic Disease Prevention, National Institution for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland; Folkhälsan Research Centre, Helsinki, Finland; Unit of General Practice, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland; Vaasa Central Hospital, Vaasa, Finland; Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Johan G
authors: JG
authors: Eriksson
authors: Research Programs Unit, Molecular Neurology, Biomedicum-Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Finland; Department of Medical Genetics, Haartman Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Kananen
authors: Diabetes Prevention Unit, Department of Chronic Disease Prevention, National Institution for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland; Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors: Eero
authors: E
authors: Kajantie
authors: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Anu-Katriina
authors: AK
authors: Pesonen
authors: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Kati
authors: K
authors: Heinonen
authors: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Katri
authors: K
authors: Räikkönen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000523:psychology; D015415:Biomarkers; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000235:genetics*; D016615:Telomere / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D059506:Telomere Shortening / Q000502:physiology*; D014857:Warfare; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004247:DNA
keywords: Aging-related diseases; Biomarker; Cellular aging; Early life stress; Telomere length; Traumatic experiences