%0 Journal Article %J Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol %D 2014 %T Telomere length and the risk of atrial fibrillation: insights into the role of biological versus chronological aging. %A Roberts, Jason D %A Dewland, Thomas A %A Longoria, James %A Fitzpatrick, Annette L %A Ziv, Elad %A Hu, Donglei %A Lin, Jue %A Glidden, David V %A Psaty, Bruce M %A Burchard, Esteban G %A Blackburn, Elizabeth H %A Olgin, Jeffrey E %A Heckbert, Susan R %A Marcus, Gregory M %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Aging %K Atrial Fibrillation %K California %K Cardiac Surgical Procedures %K Cellular Senescence %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Female %K Genetic Predisposition to Disease %K Humans %K Incidence %K Leukocytes %K Male %K Phenotype %K Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide %K Prospective Studies %K Risk Assessment %K Risk Factors %K Telomerase %K Telomere %K Time Factors %X

BACKGROUND: Advanced age is the most important risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF); however, the mechanism remains unknown. Telomeres, regions of DNA that shorten with cell division, are considered reliable markers of biological aging. We sought to examine the association between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and incident AF in a large population-based cohort using direct LTL measurements and genetic data. To further explore our findings, we compared atrial cell telomere length and LTL in cardiac surgery patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Mean LTL and the TERT rs2736100 single nucleotide polymorphism were assessed as predictors of incident AF in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). Among the surgical patients, within subject comparison of atrial cell telomere length versus LTL was assessed. Among 1639 CHS participants, we observed no relationship between mean LTL and incident AF before and after adjustment for potential confounders (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval: 0.92-1.29; P=0.299); chronologic age remained strongly associated with AF in the same model. No association was observed between the TERT rs2736100 single nucleotide polymorphism and incident AF (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.95; 95% confidence interval: 0.88-1.04; P=0.265). In 35 cardiac surgery patients (26 with AF), atrial cell telomere length was longer than LTL (1.19 ± 0.20 versus 1.02 ± 0.25 [T/S ratio], P<0.001), a finding that remained consistent within the AF subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed no evidence of an association between LTL and incident AF and no evidence of relative atrial cell telomere shortening in AF. Chronological aging independent of biological markers of aging is the primary risk factor for AF.

%B Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol %V 7 %P 1026-32 %8 2014 Dec %G eng %N 6 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25381796?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1161/CIRCEP.114.001781 %0 Journal Article %J Sci Rep %D 2019 %T Alcohol consumption and leukocyte telomere length. %A Dixit, Shalini %A Whooley, Mary A %A Vittinghoff, Eric %A Roberts, Jason D %A Heckbert, Susan R %A Fitzpatrick, Annette L %A Lin, Jue %A Leung, Cindy %A Mukamal, Kenneth J %A Marcus, Gregory M %X

The relationship between alcohol consumption and mortality generally exhibits a U-shaped curve. The longevity observed with moderate alcohol consumption may be explained by other confounding factors, and, if such a relationship is present, the mechanism is not well understood. Indeed, the optimal amount of alcohol consumption for health has yet to be determined. Leukocyte telomere length is an emerging quantifiable marker of biological age and health, and a shorter telomere length is a predictor of increased mortality. Because leukocyte telomere length is a quantifiable and objectively measurable biomarker of aging, we sought to identify the amount of alcohol consumption associated with the longest telomere length and least telomere length attrition. Among over 2,000 participants from two distinct cohort studies, we found no pattern of alcohol consumption that was associated with longer telomere length or less telomere length attrition over time. Binge drinking may reduce telomere length. Using telomere length as a marker of age and health, these data fail to demonstrate any benefits of alcohol consumption, even when consumed in moderation.

%B Sci Rep %V 9 %P 1404 %8 2019 Feb 05 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1038/s41598-019-38904-0