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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Does telomere length predict decline in physical functioning in older twin sisters during an 11-year follow-up?

Taina RantanenSarianna SipiläTimo TörmäkangasElina SillanpääJaakko Kaprio

subject

0301 basic medicineAgingmissing data not at randomTwinsphysical activitysix-minute walking testENVIRONMENTAL-FACTORSDevelopmental psychologyPhysical functioningMAXIMAL WALKING SPEEDSix-minute walking testLeukocytesMedicinetwin studyFinlandtelomereHERITABILITYWOMENTwin studyASSOCIATIONGeneral MedicineMiddle AgedTelomere3142 Public health care science environmental and occupational healthSurvival RateCARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASEbiological agingDisease ProgressionFemalePhysical activityfyysinen toimintakykyMotor ActivityArticleBiological aging03 medical and health sciencesWalking distanceAGEDiseases in TwinsHumansMissing data not at randomMotor activityMobility LimitationMETAANALYSISAgedPhysical activitybusiness.industryMORTALITYDisease progressionRepeated measures designHeritabilityTwin study030104 developmental biology3121 General medicine internal medicine and other clinical medicineGeriatrics and GerontologyDANISH TWINSbusinessPhysical functioningDemographyForecasting

description

Background: Leucocyte telomere length (LTL) is known to be associated with mortality, but its association with age-related decline in physical functioning and the development of disability is less clear. This study examined the associations between LTL and physical functioning, and investigated whether LTL predicts level of physical functioning over an 11- year follow-up. Methods: Older mono- (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twin sisters (n=386) participated in the study. Relative LTL was measured by qPCR at baseline. Physical functioning was measured by 6-min walking distance and level of physical activity (PA). Walking distance was measured at baseline and at 3-year follow-up. PA was assessed by questionnaire at baseline and at 3- and 11-year follow-ups. The baseline analysis was performed with path models, adjusted with age and within-pair dependence of twin pairs. The longitudinal analysis was performed with a repeated measures linear model adjusted for age and longitudinal within-pair dependence. A non-random missing data analysis was utilized. Results: At baseline, in all individuals LTL was associated with PA (est. 0.14 SE 0.06 p=0.011), but not with walking distance. Over the follow-up, a borderline significant association was observed between LTL and walking distance (est. 0.14 SE 0.07 p=0.060) and a significant association between LTL and PA (est. 0.19 SE 0.06 p=0.001). Conclusions: The results suggest that LTL is associated with PA and may, therefore, serve as a biomarker predicting the development of disability. Longitudinal associations between LTL and PA were observed only when nonrandom data missingness was taken into account in the analysis. peerReviewed

10.1007/s11357-016-9898-xhttps://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5005900/