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Updated: May 16, 2026
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Monochrome Multiplex Quantitative PCR Telomere Length Measurement
Published on: March 22, 2024
Leukocyte Telomere Length and Its Polygenic Risk Score in Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment: Evidence From a
Kunying Zhao1,2, Yanfeng Shi3, Hongyi Yan3
1Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Brain and Behavior
|May 14, 2026
Summary
Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and LTL polygenic risk scores (LTL-PRS) did not predict overall post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) risk. Associations were modest and context-dependent, suggesting limited prognostic utility for these biomarkers alone.
Area of Science:
- Genetics and Aging Research
- Neurology and Stroke Medicine
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a common and debilitating outcome following ischemic stroke.
- Leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a marker of biological aging, has potential links to cognitive function, but its role in stroke populations requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between baseline leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and an LTL polygenic risk score (LTL-PRS) with the risk of developing PSCI.
- To explore potential interactions of LTL and LTL-PRS with age, sex, and stroke subtype in relation to PSCI.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a large Chinese stroke cohort (n=923) from the CNSR-III-ICONS study.
- Estimation of baseline LTL using whole-genome sequencing (TelSeq) and calculation of an 18-SNP LTL-PRS.
- Assessment of cognitive status at 12 months using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA); PSCI defined as a z score ≤ -1.5. Multivariable logistic regression was employed.
Main Results:
- PSCI was observed in 20.7% of patients (191/923).
- Neither continuous LTL nor LTL-PRS showed a significant overall association with PSCI.
- Exploratory analyses indicated nominal heterogeneity by age and stroke subtype, but not conclusively by sex.
Conclusions:
- Baseline telomere metrics (LTL and LTL-PRS) demonstrated limited and context-specific associations with PSCI.
- These telomere-based biomarkers, individually, do not appear to have substantial prognostic value for PSCI.
- Future research should focus on integrated, longitudinal multi-omic approaches for improved individualized cognitive risk prediction post-stroke.
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