Telomere length is associated with left ventricular function in the oldest old: the Newcastle 85+ study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cardiology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Heart failure prevalence increases with age, yet aging's impact on cardiac function remains unclear.
• Telomere length, a biomarker for biological aging, has not been studied in relation to cardiac function.
• The Newcastle 85+ Study provides a unique cohort for investigating aging and health in the oldest old.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between telomere length and cardiac function in 85-year-old individuals.
• To determine if telomere length is an independent predictor of cardiac function in the oldest old.
• To explore the influence of the aging process on myocardial function.

Main Methods:

• Echocardiography was performed on 89 community-recruited 85-year-olds using a handheld device.
• Telomere length was quantified using a real-time PCR method.
• Statistical analysis examined associations between telomere length, ejection fraction, and other clinical factors.

Main Results:

• Ejection fraction (EF) was significantly associated with telomere length (P=0.006) in subjects without prior myocardial infarction.
• Telomere length and sex were significant predictors of EF.
• A one standard deviation increase in telomere length was associated with a 5% increase in EF, accounting for 12% of variability.

Conclusions:

• The aging process influences myocardial function in the oldest old, independent of specific disease processes.
• Telomere length may play a role in the etiology of heart failure in advanced age.
• These findings highlight the impact of cellular aging on cardiac health in extreme longevity.