{"id":39297,"date":"2023-03-31T17:52:35","date_gmt":"2023-03-31T21:52:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nebula.org\/blog\/?p=39297"},"modified":"2023-03-31T17:52:36","modified_gmt":"2023-03-31T21:52:36","slug":"shortened-telomeres-reveal-alzheimers-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nebula.org\/blog\/shortened-telomeres-reveal-alzheimers-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Can shortened telomeres reveal Alzheimer\u2019s disease?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Alzheimer’s disease (AD)<\/a> is a prevalent form of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Scientists have been working tirelessly to uncover the factors contributing to this degenerative disease. Did you know that shortened telomeres can reveal Alzheimer\u2019s disease?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Alzheimer’s Association<\/a> reports that approximately 6.7 million Americans are living with AD. Early-stage Alzheimer’s starts as mild memory loss, while more advanced stages render individuals incapable of communication and performing daily tasks. Currently, there is no cure, but available treatments can help slow AD’s progression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Alzheimer's
Alzheimer\u2019s progression. National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health via Flickr<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Contrary to common belief, Alzheimer’s is not a typical part of aging, though advanced age does come with a higher risk of AD. Most cases occur in individuals over 65, with younger occurrences classified as early-onset. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some experts believe the abnormal accumulation of protein pieces, beta-amyloid plaque, and tangles around brain cells cause the disease, which leads to tissue damage and brain cell death. However, this is disputed by other research. What makes certain people susceptible to Alzheimer\u2019s as they age is less understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New research published in PLOS ONE<\/em><\/a> suggests that telomere shortening may be connected to Alzheimer’s disease. Telomeres, or chromosome caps, shorten as cells age. Once they become too short, cells cease dividing and eventually die. Therefore, telomeres are often used as markers of biological age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Telomere
Telomere. TheConversation.com via Wikipedia<\/a>. CC-Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Everyone experiences telomere shortening. However, research shows that lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise, significantly influence the rate of cellular aging. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can keep reduce the speed of telomer shortening and promote overall well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Study<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The authors of this study sought to expand previous studies that linked short telomeres to dementia<\/a> onset. This earlier work provided evidence linking telomere length and brain volume<\/a> atrophy, a characteristic of Alzheimer\u2019s disease. However, in this study, the scientists wanted to link other structural and functional brain changes in people with neurodegenerative disorders to telomere shortening.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To do this, they examined the relationship between telomere length in white blood cells and neuroimaging markers, such as grey and white matter volume. This approach was intended to shed light on the biological mechanisms connecting telomeres to Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study involved MRI brain scans from 31,661 UK Biobank participants. They also measured telomere length using genetic testing-related technologies and leveraged electronic health records to assess which participants developed neurodegenerative diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"MRI
MRI. Photo by Anna Shvets: https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/close-up-shot-of-mri-results-4226264\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

MRI analysis revealed that longer telomere length correlated with improved brain health. Patients with clinical Alzheimer\u2019s disease tended to have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n