Terry Dellara F, Nolan Vikki G, Andersen Stacy L, Perls Thomas T, Cawthon Richard
New England Centenarian Study, Geriatrics Section of the Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, 88 East Newton Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2008 Aug;63(8):809-12. doi: 10.1093/gerona/63.8.809.
Prior animal model studies have demonstrated an association between telomere length and longevity. Our study examines telomere length in centenarians in good health versus poor health. Using DNA from blood lymphocytes, telomere length was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 38 sex- and age-matched centenarians (ages 97-108). "Healthy" centenarians (n = 19) with physical function in the independent range and the absence of hypertension, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, dementia, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes were compared to centenarians with physical function limitations and > or =2 of the above conditions (n = 19). Healthy centenarians had significantly longer telomeres than did unhealthy centenarians (p =.0475). Our study demonstrated that investigations of the association between telomere length and exceptional longevity must take into account the health status of the individuals. This raises the possibility that perhaps it is not exceptional longevity but one's function and health that may be associated with telomere length.
先前的动物模型研究已经证明了端粒长度与寿命之间的关联。我们的研究调查了健康状况良好与不佳的百岁老人的端粒长度。利用血液淋巴细胞的DNA，通过定量聚合酶链反应对38名年龄和性别匹配的百岁老人（年龄在97至108岁之间）的端粒长度进行了测量。将身体功能处于独立范围且无高血压、充血性心力衰竭、心肌梗死、外周血管疾病、痴呆、癌症、中风、慢性阻塞性肺疾病和糖尿病的“健康”百岁老人（n = 19）与身体功能受限且患有上述两种或更多种疾病的百岁老人（n = 19）进行比较。健康的百岁老人的端粒明显长于不健康的百岁老人（p = 0.0475）。我们的研究表明，在调查端粒长度与超长寿命之间的关联时，必须考虑个体的健康状况。这增加了一种可能性，即或许与端粒长度相关的并非超长寿命，而是一个人的功能和健康状况。
