Telomere length and physical performance among older people—The Helsinki Birth Cohort Study

• Published in: Mechanisms of ageing and development 2019-10, Vol.183, p.111145-111145, Article 111145
• Main Authors: Åström, Max J., von Bonsdorff, Mikaela B., Perälä, Mia-Maria, Salonen, Minna K., Rantanen, Taina, Kajantie, Eero, Simonen, Mika, Pohjolainen, Pertti, Haapanen, Markus J., Guzzardi, Maria A., Iozzo, Patricia, Kautiainen, Hannu, Eriksson, Johan G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aging; Biomarkers; Epidemiology; Physical function
• ISSN: 0047-6374; 1872-6216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2019.111145

•There was an association between telomere length and physical performance.•Greater telomere attrition was associated with poorer physical performance.•Results were significant only for women.•Telomeres could potentially be used as a biomarker of physical performance. Telomere length has been suggested a biomarker of aging and is associated with several chronic diseases. However, the association between telomere length and physical performance is not well known. Using both cross-sectional and longitudinal data, we studied 582 women and 453 men from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study at two time-points; a baseline examination in 2001–2004 at a mean age of 61 years and a follow-up examination approximately 10 years later in 2011–2013. Telomere length was measured both at baseline and at follow-up using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Physical performance was evaluated only at follow-up using the Senior Fitness Test (SFT), which assesses strength, flexibility and endurance. In women, shorter telomere length at follow-up (p = 0.044) and greater telomere attrition during follow-up time (p = 0.022) were associated with poorer physical performance after adjusting for covariates (age at baseline, smoking status, body mass index at baseline, follow-up time and educational attainment). No similar associations were found for men. This indicates that, at least in women, telomere length could potentially be used as a biomarker for physical performance, however, more longitudinal studies are needed to confirm this association.