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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
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Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence
Published on: May 22, 2013
Telomere length and mortality in elderly men: the Zutphen Elderly Study
Joyce M J Houben1, Erik J Giltay, Nathaly Rius-Ottenheim
1Department of Health Risk Analysis and Toxicology, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands.
Summary
Telomere shortening, a marker of aging, was studied in elderly men. Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) did not predict mortality in men over 70, suggesting LTL is not linked to survival in this age group.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Molecular Biology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Telomere shortening is a recognized indicator of biological aging.
- Telomere length's association with disease progression and survival requires further investigation, particularly in older populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and mortality in elderly men.
- To determine if LTL predicts all-cause, cardiovascular, or cancer mortality in men over 70 years of age.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to measure LTL in 203 male participants of the Zutphen Elderly Study.
- Data were collected in 1993 (mean age 78) and 2000 (mean age 83), with a 7-year follow-up period.
- Cox proportional hazards models were employed to analyze mortality risks associated with LTL.
Main Results:
- Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) exhibited a mean decline of 40.2 base pairs per year.
- A significant correlation was observed between LTL measurements taken 7 years apart (r = .51, p < .001).
- Longer baseline LTL was not found to be a significant predictor for all-cause, cardiovascular, or cancer mortality.
Conclusions:
- Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) decreases with advancing age in elderly men.
- In men over 70 years old, LTL is not associated with increased risk of mortality from any cause, cardiovascular disease, or cancer.
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