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Leisure-time physical activity and leukocyte telomere length among older women.

TitleLeisure-time physical activity and leukocyte telomere length among older women.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsShadyab, AH, Lamonte, MJ, Kooperberg, C, Reiner, AP, Carty, CL, Manini, TM, Hou, L, Di, C, Macera, CA, Gallo, LC, Shaffer, RA, Jain, S, LaCroix, AZ
JournalExp Gerontol
Volume95
Pagination141-147
Date Published2017 Sep
ISSN1873-6815
Abstract<p><b>BACKGROUND: </b>Shortened leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a purported marker of cellular aging, is associated with morbidity and mortality. However, the association of physical activity, a modifiable lifestyle behavior, with LTL has not been adequately studied among older adults.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>In this cross-sectional study, we examined associations of various intensity levels of leisure-time physical activity with LTL among 1476 older white and African American women from the Women's Health Initiative Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health study. Self-reported physical activity was assessed by questionnaire, and LTL was measured by Southern blot. The association between physical activity and LTL was evaluated using multiple linear regression models adjusted for demographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and health-related variables.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>Women were on average aged 79.2 (standard deviation 6.7) years old. In the final model adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, education, marital status, smoking, alcohol, body mass index, a history of chronic diseases, and hormone therapy use, LTL was on average 110 (95% confidence interval, 20-190) base pairs longer among women in the highest (≥17.00MET-hours/week) compared with the lowest (<1.25MET-hours/week) level of total leisure-time physical activity (P for trend=0.02). Higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (P for trend=0.04) and faster walking speed (P for trend=0.03) were also associated with longer LTL in the fully-adjusted models.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>Older women participating in greater amounts of total leisure-time physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity had longer LTL.</p>
DOI10.1016/j.exger.2017.05.019
Alternate JournalExp. Gerontol.
PubMed ID28552815
PubMed Central IDPMC5530759
Grant ListHHSN268201100001I / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL121023 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
HHSN268201100004I / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
HHSN268201100046C / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
T32 AR064194 / AR / NIAMS NIH HHS / United States
HHSN268201100003C / WH / WHI NIH HHS / United States
HHSN268201300007C / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG028740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
HHSN271201100004C / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
HHSN268201100002C / WH / WHI NIH HHS / United States
HHSN268201100002I / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
HHSN268201100001C / WH / WHI NIH HHS / United States
HHSN268201100004C / WH / WHI NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL105065 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
ePub date: 
17/09