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Hostility, a trait characterized by a global mistrustful attitude, has long been associated with elevated risks for illness and premature death. Recently, early mortality has been linked to shortened telomeres, resulting in genomic instability and early apoptosis (see JW Psychiatry Jan 12 2005). In the current study involving 434 British people without coronary heart disease (mean age, 63), researchers (two with proprietary interests in a telomere diagnostic company) examined the relationship of cynical hostility with two risk factors for early mortality — leukocyte telomere length (TL) and activity of telomerase (a telomere repair enzyme activated by telomere shortening).
Analyses adjusted for age, socioeconomic status, body-mass index, wai…