Association of Physical Activity With Telomere Length Among Elderly Adults - The Oulu Cohort 1945

Abstract

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) has been associated with telomere shortening. The association of PA intensity or volume with telomere length (TL) is nonetheless unclear. The aim of our study was to investigate the associations of exercise intensity and volume with TL in elderly adults from Northern Finland (65° latitude North). Methods: Seven hundred elderly subjects born in 1945 in the Oulu region were investigated. PA was measured during a 2-week period with a wrist-worn accelerometer. In addition, a questionnaire was used to assess sedentary time and to achieve a longitudinal PA history and intensity. Relative telomere lengths (RTL) were determined from frozen whole blood samples using a qPCR-based method. Results: Relative telomere lengths were significantly longer in women than men and negatively correlated with age in both genders (men r = -0.210, p = 0.000, women r = -0.174, and p = 0.000). During the 2-week study period, women took more steps than men ( p = 0.001), but the association between steps and RTL was only seen in men ( p = 0.05). Total steps taken ( r = 0.202 and p = 0.04) and sedentary time ( r = -0.247 and p = 0.007) significantly correlated with RTLs in 70-year old subjects. Moderate PA was associated with RTL in subjects with the highest quartile of moderate PA compared to the three lower quartiles ( p -values: 0.023 between 4th and 1st, 0.04 between 4th and 2nd, and 0.027 between 4th and 3rd) in the 70-year old subjects. Conclusion: Women had longer RTL and a higher step count compared to men. However, exercise volume and RTL correlated positively only in men. Surprisingly, age correlated negatively with RTL already within an age difference of 2 years. This suggests that telomere attrition rate may accelerate in older age. Moderate physical activity at the time of study was associated with RTL.

Vitamin D Status and Components of Metabolic Syndrome in Older Subjects from Northern Finland (Latitude 65°North)

“…The subjects underwent bioelectrical impedance measurements (InBody 720, InBody, Seoul, Korea). In all the participants, the habitual physical activity was objectively measured using a wrist-worn acceleration meter (Polar Active, Polar Electro, Finland) as previously described [28]. The participants filled in questionnaires on vitamin D supplementation along with life style factors, such as smoking habits, alcohol consumption, mental status, and perceived health.…”

Leukocyte Telomere Length Is Not Reduced in Children and Adults with Cystic Fibrosis but Associates with Clinical Characteristics—A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The following melt curve started with 15 s at 95 °C, then 71 cycles increasing by +0.5 °C (60–95 °C) for PCR product verification. The thermoprofile for the single copy gene was 95 °C for 10 min, 55 cycles of: 15 s at 95 °C, 1 min at 60 °C with signal acquisition, and melt curve starting 15 s at 95 °C, and then increasing temperature by +0.5 °C (60–95 °C) for PCR product verification [ 23 , 24 ]. To reflect the nature of the DNA being analyzed in clinical samples, the reference DNA sample for the standard curve consisted of pooled DNA extracted from whole blood, as well as DNA extracted from each dried blood sample, as suggested by Lin et al [ 25 ].…”

“…Relative telomere length (RTL) was determined by the qPCR method, using primers for amplification of telomere and single copy gene from [22]. The PCR cycling conditions for the telomere primers were: 95 • C for 10 min, 2 repeats of: 15 s at [23,24]. To reflect the nature of the DNA being analyzed in clinical samples, the reference DNA sample for the standard curve consisted of pooled DNA extracted from whole blood, as well as DNA extracted from each dried blood sample, as suggested by Lin et al [25].…”

PCSK9 Levels and Metabolic Profiles in Elderly Subjects with Different Glucose Tolerance under Statin Therapy

“…We investigated individuals that were born in 1945 and who live in the city of Oulu (Oulu Cohort 1945), which is located in North Ostrobothnia, Finland (65° North). The original data collection was done between the years 2001–2002, and it included 1332 participants ( Figure 1 ) [ 26 ]. In this study, we used data from the follow-up health examinations, which were carried out from 2013–2015.…”