Does Salivary Telomere Length Explain Race/Ethnic Differences in Aging?

Biodemography Soc Biol. 2019 Oct-Dec;65(4):351-369. doi: 10.1080/19485565.2020.1798736. Epub 2020 Nov 26.

Abstract

Telomere length (TL) is a biomarker that can be used to characterize variability in aging and may explain race/ethnic differences in aging. Yet, it remains unclear if TL is related to aging-associated health risks in multi-ethnic populations or if it explains race/ethnic differences in health. We examine whether salivary TL (STL) explains any of the race/ethnic variability in 15 indicators of high-risk biological, physical and cognitive health among 4,074 white, black, and Latinx older adults ages 54+ in the 2008 Health and Retirement Study. TL was assayed from saliva using quantitative PCR (T/S ratio). Decomposition analyses from logistic regression models show variation in STL does not account for any of the observed race/ethnic differences health. In age-adjusted, race-stratified models, STL was associated with HDL, total cholesterol, and lung function among whites, but was not associated with any markers of health among black or Latinx groups. In this diverse national sample of older adults, STL does not account for race/ethnic differences in late life health, is associated with relatively few indicators of health among whites, and is not associated with indicators of health among black or Latinx groups. STL may not be a useful biomarker for understanding racial/ethnic differences in population aging among older adults.

Keywords: aging; biomarkers; ethnicity; race; telomere length.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging / ethnology*
  • Aging / psychology
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Black People / ethnology*
  • Black People / psychology
  • Black People / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Racial Groups / ethnology
  • Racial Groups / statistics & numerical data
  • Retirement / statistics & numerical data
  • Saliva / enzymology*
  • Telomere / classification*
  • Telomere / physiology
  • White People / ethnology*
  • White People / psychology
  • White People / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Biomarkers