title: Analysis of telomere attrition in bipolar disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Telomeres can be considered a marker of biological aging. Studies have suggested that telomere shortening may be associated with aging related diseases and also psychiatric disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Investigate whether bipolar disorder (BD) and its clinical specificities are associated with telomere shortening.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-five BD patients and 95 healthy controls were paired for age, sex and educational level. Volunteers were submitted to a psychiatric interview and clinical evaluation. Patients and controls were compared as a whole sample and within specific telomere range (short and long telomeres). Intrapatients group comparison involved type of BD and comorbidities. A Real Time Quantitative PCR was performed in order to verify leukocytes telomere length.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bipolar disorder patients presented shorter telomeres when compared to controls (p<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in telomere length between different BD subtypes. When two groups of patients (long and short telomeres) were compared, only panic disorder showed an association with telomere categories (χ(2)=6.91; p=0.009; OR=4.27).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was not possible to collect information about time since diagnosis, which limited conclusions regarding BD chronicity and telomere length. Furthermore, medication interference upon telomere length was not controlled.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that BD is associated with reduced telomere length. Also, panic comorbidity may represent an additive risk factor. Understanding aspects that contribute to determination of telomere size in bipolar patients allows us to understand what the impact on telomeres size is, which is a health vulnerability marker.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Science and Technology in Molecular Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais(UFMG), Brazil. Electronic address: isabelammlima@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Isabela Maria Magalhães
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Science and Technology in Molecular Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais(UFMG), Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Science and Technology in Molecular Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais(UFMG), Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela Valadão
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maicon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Science and Technology in Molecular Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais(UFMG), Brazil; Department of Mental Health, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Malloy-Diniz
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Silva
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Science and Technology in Molecular Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais(UFMG), Brazil; Department of Mental Health, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco Aurélio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Romano-Silva
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Science and Technology in Molecular Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais(UFMG), Brazil; Department of Pediatrics, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora Marques
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: de Miranda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D016615:Telomere; D059506:Telomere Shortening
keywords: Aging; Bipolar disorder; Panic disorder; Stress; Telomere length