Loading...
Telomeres, found on the caps of chromosomes, promote stability. Telomeres are not fully replicated during cell division and gradually shorten. Thus, telomere length is an indicator of cellular aging. Researchers previously found that psychological stress resulted in telomere shortening (Journal Watch Psychiatry Jan 12 2005). Dementia might be a consequence of biological aging, and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype might predispose an individual to accelerated aging. In this study, researchers investigated the relationships among telomere length, dementia, APOE genotype, and mortality among 257 individuals drawn from a larger, prospective study on aging initiated in 1992. Assessments occurred every 18 months.
Mean age when blood was drawn was …