Telomere Length Is Associated with Disability Progression in Multiple Sclerosis.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gerontology
• Genetics

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease characterized by progressive disability and neurodegeneration.
• Biological aging, distinct from chronological age, may influence MS pathogenesis and progression.
• Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) serves as a biomarker for biological aging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and clinical disability in multiple sclerosis (MS).
• To determine if LTL correlates with brain volume loss in individuals with MS.
• To explore biological aging as a potential contributor to neurological injury in MS.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the University of California, San Francisco EPIC cohort study, including adults with MS or clinically isolated syndrome.
• Measured LTL using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, expressed as telomere to somatic DNA (T/S) ratio.
• Assessed clinical disability with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and brain volume using MRI at baseline and follow-up.

Main Results:

• Shorter LTL was significantly associated with higher EDSS scores and lower brain volumes, independent of chronological age.
• Longitudinal analyses revealed that lower baseline LTL predicted greater disability and brain volume loss over time.
• Changes in LTL over 10 years correlated with changes in EDSS, indicating a dynamic relationship.

Conclusions:

• Shorter telomere length is a biomarker for accelerated biological aging and is associated with increased disability and neurodegeneration in MS.
• Biological aging mechanisms may play a crucial role in the progression of neurological injury in MS.
• Targeting aging-related pathways presents a promising therapeutic avenue for mitigating MS progression.