, new research suggests.
“This is the largest and most systematic investigation of telomere length and brain structure and function,” said Anya Topiwala, of the University of Oxford (England). “We found that longer telomeres associated with protection against dementia. The links with brain structure, we think, offer a possible mechanism for this protection. The hope is, by understanding the mechanism, new treatment targets could be uncovered,” Dr. Topiwala said.
The study was published online in PLOS ONE.
UK Biobank cohort
Telomeres form protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, and they progressively shorten with age, which may increase susceptibility to age-related diseases including Alzheimer’s disease. The mechanism underlying this risk is unclear and may involve changes in brain structure and function. However, the relationship between telomere length and neuroimaging markers is poorly characterized.
Dr. Topiwala and colleagues compared telomere length in white blood cells to brain MRI and health record data in 31,661 middle-aged and older adults in UK Biobank. They found that longer leucocyte telomere length (LTL) was associated with a larger volume of global and subcortical grey matter and a larger hippocampus – both of which shrink in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Longer telomeres were also associated with a thicker cerebral cortex, which thins as Alzheimer’s disease progresses.
Longer LTL was also associated with reduced incidence of dementia during follow-up (hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.91-0.96).
Dr. Topiwala noted that many of the factors related to telomere shortening, such as age, genetics, and sex, can’t be changed. However, in a previous study, her team found that drinking alcohol may shorten telomere length. “So by this logic, reducing your alcohol intake could curb the shortening,” Dr. Topiwala said.
She said that a limitation of the study is that telomere length was measured in blood rather than brain and that it’s not clear at present how closely the two relate. Also, UK Biobank participants are generally more healthy than is the general population. Also, though telomere length and brain measures were associated, “we cannot from this study prove one is causing the other,” she added.
Need for more research
Commenting on the research, Percy Griffin, PhD, Alzheimer’s Association director of scientific engagement, said that it’s been “known for some time that shortened telomeres – the caps at the end of DNA – are associated with increased aging.”
This new study is “interesting,” said Dr. Percy, in that it shows an association between longer telomere length in white blood cells and healthier brain structures in the areas associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The longer telomeres were also associated with lower incidence of all-cause dementia.
But echoing Dr. Topiwala, “association does not mean causation,” Dr. Griffin said. “More research is needed to understand how diverse mechanisms contributing to Alzheimer’s and other dementia can be targeted.”
“The Alzheimer’s Association is accelerating the discovery of novel therapies through its Part the Cloud funding program, which has invested more than $65 million to accelerate the development of 65 drug development programs,” Dr. Griffin said.
The study had no specific funding. Dr. Topiwala and Dr. Griffin report no relevant disclosures.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.