Telomere length predicts survival independent of genetic influences
Open Access
- 14 September 2007
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Aging Cell
- Vol. 6 (6), 769-774
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-9726.2007.00340.x
Abstract
Telomeres prevent the loss of coding genetic material during chromosomal replication. Previous research suggests that shorter telomere length may be associated with lower survival. Because genetic factors are important for individual differences in both telomere length and mortality, this association could reflect genetic or environmental pleiotropy rather than a direct biological effect of telomeres. We demonstrate through within‐pair analyses of Swedish twins that telomere length at advanced age is a biomarker that predicts survival beyond the impact of early familial environment and genetic factors in common with telomere length and mortality. Twins with the shortest telomeres had a three times greater risk of death during the follow‐up period than their co‐twins with the longest telomere measurements [hazard ratio (RR) = 2.8, 95% confidence interval 1.1–7.3, P = 0.03].Keywords
This publication has 27 references indexed in Scilit:
- The Telomere and Telomerase: How do they Interact?Published by Wiley ,2007
- Telomere length in white blood cells is not associated with morbidity or mortality in the oldest old: a population‐based studyAging Cell, 2005
- The Heritability of Telomere Length Among the Elderly and Oldest-OldTwin Research and Human Genetics, 2005
- Telomere Length Among the Elderly and Oldest-OldTwin Research and Human Genetics, 2005
- Aging, telomeres, and atherosclerosisCardiovascular Research, 2005
- Genetic Influences on CHD-Death and the Impact of Known Risk Factors: Comparison of Two Frailty ModelsBehavior Genetics, 2004
- How heritable is individual susceptibility to death? The results of an analysis of survival data on Danish, Swedish and Finnish twinsTwin Research, 1998
- Specific Association of Human Telomerase Activity with Immortal Cells and CancerScience, 1994
- Telomeres shorten during ageing of human fibroblastsNature, 1990
- A theory of marginotomyJournal of Theoretical Biology, 1973