Xuling Chang1,2, Kevin Yiqiang Chua3, Ling Wang4, Jianjun Liu4,5, Jian-Min Yuan6,7, Chiea-Chuen Khor4,8, Chew-Kiat Heng1,2, Woon-Puay Koh9,10, Rajkumar Dorajoo4,10. 1. Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. 2. Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore. 3. NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore. 4. Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore. 5. Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. 6. Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 7. Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 8. Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore. 9. Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore. 10. Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore, Singapore.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Telomere attrition has been proposed as a hallmark of aging. We previously reported on the association between blood leukocyte telomere length (LTL) at midlife and risk of chronic diseases and mortality. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the effect of midlife LTL and genetic proxies on 5 markers of aging outcomes, namely handgrip strength, timed up-and-go (TUG), Singapore-modified Mini-Mental State Examination (SM-MMSE) scores, anxiety, and depression indices, measured after a median 20-year follow-up in the Singapore Chinese Health Study (N = 9581). RESULTS: We observed a significant association between midlife LTL and handgrip strength later in life (p = .004, padjust = .020), as well as a nominal significant association between midlife LTL and TUG later in life (p = .036, padjust = .180). The weighted Genetic Risk Score (wGRS) comprising 15 previously reported LTL reducing loci in East Asians was not significantly associated with handgrip strength. However, results from Structural Equation Modeling showed that the effect of this wGRS on handgrip strength was mediated through LTL (proportion of wGRS effect on handgrip strength mediated through LTL = 33.3%, p = .010). CONCLUSIONS: Longer midlife LTL was associated with increased handgrip strength later in life.
BACKGROUND: Telomere attrition has been proposed as a hallmark of aging. We previously reported on the association between blood leukocyte telomere length (LTL) at midlife and risk of chronic diseases and mortality. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the effect of midlife LTL and genetic proxies on 5 markers of aging outcomes, namely handgrip strength, timed up-and-go (TUG), Singapore-modified Mini-Mental State Examination (SM-MMSE) scores, anxiety, and depression indices, measured after a median 20-year follow-up in the Singapore Chinese Health Study (N = 9581). RESULTS: We observed a significant association between midlife LTL and handgrip strength later in life (p = .004, padjust = .020), as well as a nominal significant association between midlife LTL and TUG later in life (p = .036, padjust = .180). The weighted Genetic Risk Score (wGRS) comprising 15 previously reported LTL reducing loci in East Asians was not significantly associated with handgrip strength. However, results from Structural Equation Modeling showed that the effect of this wGRS on handgrip strength was mediated through LTL (proportion of wGRS effect on handgrip strength mediated through LTL = 33.3%, p = .010). CONCLUSIONS: Longer midlife LTL was associated with increased handgrip strength later in life.
Authors: Karen Anne Mather; Anthony Francis Jorm; Peter John Milburn; Xiaoyun Tan; Simon Easteal; Helen Christensen Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2010-04-22 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Daniel Baylis; Georgia Ntani; Mark H Edwards; Holly E Syddall; David B Bartlett; Elaine M Dennison; Carmen Martin-Ruiz; Thomas von Zglinicki; Diana Kuh; Janet M Lord; Avan Aihie Sayer; Cyrus Cooper Journal: Calcif Tissue Int Date: 2014-05-25 Impact factor: 4.333