Telomere Length and Neighborhood Circumstances: Evaluating Biological Response to Unfavorable Exposures

Abstract

Background Multilevel frameworks suggest neighborhood circumstances influence biology; however, this relationship is not well-studied. Telomere length(TL) shortening has been associated with individual-level and neighborhood-level exposures and disease, and may provide insights into underlying biologic mechanisms linking neighborhood with biology. To support neighborhood-biology investigations, we sought to determine the independent effect of neighborhood exposures on TL using standard multilevel linear regression models and quantile regression--a nonlinear, social science method applicable to testing the biologic hypothesis that extremes of the TL distribution are related to poor outcomes. Methods In a multicenter, cross-sectional study, blood TL was measured in 1,488 individuals from 127 census tracts in three U.S. regions using terminal restriction fragment assays. Multilevel linear and quantile regression models, were adjusted for individual-level race, education, perceived stress, depression. Neighborhood exposures included population density, urban/residential crowding, residential stability/mobility, socioeconomic status(SES). Results TL was not associated with any neighborhood variable using linear models, but quantile regression revealed inverse associations between population density and urban crowding at the lower tails of the TL distribution (5th(population density-p-value=0.03;urban crowding-p-value=0.002), 50th(both p-values<0.001), 75th percentiles(both p-values<0.001)). TL was related to residential stability at the upper tail (95th percentile-p-value=0.006). Conclusion Findings support the use of nonlinear statistical methods in TL research and suggest that neighborhood exposures can result in biological effects. Impact TL may serve as an underlying example of a biologic mechanism that can link neighborhood with biology, thus supporting multilevel investigations in future studies.

Telomere reprogramming during fetal life in low socioeconomic mothers

“…A study among different universities showed a wide range of telomere length: 6.3 kbp (University of Texas), 6.4 kbp (University of Pennsylvania), and 8.7 kbp (Ohio State University). Therefore, as the education level increases, the telomere length also increases [51]. The data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2002, reported significantly (− 0.042; p < .01) shorter telomeres 5.49 kbp in adults with less than a high school degree compared to college graduates 5.63 kbp [29,30].…”

“…Fujishrio et al observed that duration of job < 10 years was connected with the ethnicity of African-American, Latino, and white population [60]. Different telomere lengths among whites (5.55 kbp), African-American (5.68 kbp), and Latino (5.49 kbp) emphasized the ethnicity advantage among people along with occupation [51]. Another cohort study highlighted longer telomeres in blacks compared to white ethnicity despite having the same standard of education in both groups [3].…”

Foods, Dietary Patterns and Occupational Class and Leukocyte Telomere Length in the Male Population

“…Numerous studies have reported that shorter telomeres were associated with age and chronic diseases like dyslipidemia ( Aulinas et al, 2015 ), hypertension ( Paik, Kang, Cho, & Shin, 2016 ), and diabetes ( Zhao et al, 2014 ). Telomere shortening was increased with increase in age, BMI and weight, residence years, and total serum lipids (TSL) ( Lynch et al, 2017 ). TL is dynamic and continuously changing, and its length can be changed in both directions during life ( Hovatta et al, 2012 ).…”

Association of Neighborhood Deprivation With Epigenetic Aging Using 4 Clock Metrics

“… 13 Living in a deprived neighborhood can also lead to chronic stress 8 , 14 , 15 , 16 and induce biological weathering in endocrine and inflammatory systems. Markers of biological aging, such as higher allostatic load 16 and reduced telomere length, 17 are linked with greater neighborhood deprivation.…”