Longer telomere length in patients with schizophrenia
Open accessAbstract
Previous studies have reported an association between shorter leukocyte telomere length and schizophrenia (SCZ). The aim of the present study was to replicate this finding in a large sample of SCZ patients (n=539) and population-based controls (n=519). In addition, the possible influence of SCZ severity on telomere length - as measured by age of onset, mode of onset, and course of the disorder - was investigated. Telomere length was negatively associated with age in both patients and controls. This is a consistently reported phenomenon, related to the problem of DNA end-replication. However, in contrast to previous findings, SCZ patients displayed longer telomeres compared to controls (p=0.015). No association was found with any SCZ-severity subphenotype. Interestingly, recent studies have reported associations between longer leukocyte telomere length and both smaller hippocampal volume, and poorer episodic memory performance. Both phenotypes are common in patients with SCZ. Further studies are warranted to investigate whether the present association between SCZ and increased telomere length was driven by such associations, or rather by association with the clinical disease per se or other associated phenotypes, endophenotypes or lifestyle factors.
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In Nieratschker et al., an unequal number of outlier data points (>3 SD from the mean) were excluded from analysis (23 from the schizophrenia sample and four from the control sample).
“A possible confounder is that an unequal number of “outlier” data points (> 3 SD from the mean) were excluded from analysis (23 data points from the schizophrenia sample and four data points from the control sample).”
From Psychiatric disorders and leukocyte telomere length: Underlying mechanisms linking mental illness with cellular aging (2015) · cites this paper as Nieratschker et al., 2013
Nieratschker et al. (2013), the largest study to date (539 schizophrenia subjects and 519 controls), reported an unexpected increase in LTL in individuals with schizophrenia compared to healthy controls, especially in younger subjects.
“The largest study to date (comprising 539 schizophrenia subjects and 519 controls) (Nieratschker et al., 2013) reported an unexpected increase in LTL in individuals with schizophrenia in comparison to healthy controls, especially in the younger subjects.”
From Psychiatric disorders and leukocyte telomere length: Underlying mechanisms linking mental illness with cellular aging (2015) · cites this paper as Nieratschker et al., 2013
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References 65 · Cited by 63
- Authors
- Nieratschker, V., Lahtinen, J., Meier, S., Strohmaier, J., Frank, J., Heinrich, A., Breuer, R., Witt, S. H., Nöthen, M. M., Rietschel, M., & Hovatta, I.
- Affiliations
- Heidelberg University (DE)
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- University of Bonn (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Nieratschker, Vanessa
- Rietschel, Marcella
- ORCID
- Venue
- Schizophrenia Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-09
- Volume
- 149
- Issue
- 1-3
- Pages
- 116-120
- ISSN
- 0920-9964 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1981039316
- Cited by
- 63
- References
- 65
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 4
- FWCI
- 5.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- zenodo.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Schizophrenia Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DZNE Pub (submittedVersion)
- STM:n Hallinnonalan avoin julkaisuarkisto (Julkari) (submittedVersion)
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Keywords
- schizophrenia, telomere length
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Germany, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Schizophrenia, Telomere, Community Health Planning, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Young Adult
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