title: Telomere length, family history, and paternal age in schizophrenia.
abstract: Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is longer in association with advanced paternal age, but this association has not been examined along with family history (FH) in schizophrenia. LTL was measured by PCR and compared across cases and controls as part of a study to examine the characteristics of paternal age related schizophrenia. The 53 schizophrenia cases had similar mean LTL as 20 controls, although cases were significantly older than controls and overwhelmingly smoked cigarettes. Multivariate analyses showed that a FH of schizophrenia was associated with longer LTL in both male and female cases. Later paternal age was also related to longer LTL in male cases, but with shorter LTL in female cases. Male cases with older fathers and a FH had the longest LTL. The genetic architecture associated with a familial risk for schizophrenia may include pathways that lengthen LTL. Paternal aging conferred an additional increase in LTL lengthening in male cases, but reduced LTL in female cases. The gender difference in LTL for paternal aging is consistent with the severe illness features reported for female cases with older fathers and could implicate epigenetic alterations in the paternal X chromosomal region with advanced paternal age in association with the risk for schizophrenia.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Institute for Social and Psychiatric Initiatives, New York University School of Medicine New York, New York ; Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, NY State Office of Mental Health New York, New York.
authors: Dolores
authors: D
authors: Malaspina
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Institute for Social and Psychiatric Initiatives, New York University School of Medicine New York, New York ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University School of Medicine New York, New York.
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Dracxler
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Institute for Social and Psychiatric Initiatives, New York University School of Medicine New York, New York.
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Walsh-Messinger
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Institute for Social and Psychiatric Initiatives, New York University School of Medicine New York, New York.
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Harlap
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Institute for Social and Psychiatric Initiatives, New York University School of Medicine New York, New York ; Division of Clinical Phenomenology, New York State Psychiatric Institute New York, New York.
authors: Raymond R
authors: RR
authors: Goetz
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University School of Medicine New York, New York.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Keefe
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Institute for Social and Psychiatric Initiatives, New York University School of Medicine New York, New York.
authors: Mary C
authors: MC
authors: Perrin
keywords: Genetics; gender differences; psychosis