Telomere Length, Cortisol, Body Composition, Hemodynamics And Dance: An Exploratory Analysis In 18-to-83-year-olds

BACKGROUND: Physiological dysregulation (PD) reflects the cumulative effects of biological aging, and PD has been quantified using composite measures comprised of biomarkers and biophysical signals. Participating in dance is positively associated with physiological health; however, little is known about the relationship between lifetime participation in dance and PD. PURPOSE: To test the relationship between a composite measure of PD and lifetime exposures to dance training among adults. METHODS: Active, community-dwelling adults (N = 66) enrolled, and n = 40 [female 80%(32), mean age: 42.5(19.3), years dance training: 0 to 56] completed all study activities. Saliva samples were analyzed to quantify absolute (kb) telomere length (TL) using qPCR. Cortisol levels were analyzed using fingernail samples obtained after 18-21 days of nail growth. Blood pressure (BP), QTc ratio, heart rate (HR), percent body fat and resting metabolic rate (RMR) were also measured. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to combine absolute TL, cortisol, BP, % body fat, and the QTc ratio into a composite measure of physiological health (CPH). Associations between CPH, age, and dance training experience were evaluated using Spearman’s correlations and robust linear regression, with the significance level set a priori α = 0.05. RESULTS: PCA yielded a CPH score that was positively associated with TL (λ = 0.41) and inversely associated with cortisol (λ = 0.06), systolic BP (λ = 0.55), diastolic BP (λ = 0.53), percent body fat (λ = 0.41), and QTc ratio (λ = 0.29). CPH was inversely associated with age (r = 0.60). Results from the robust linear regression model showed that lifetime total years of dance training were positively associated with the CPH score (β = 0.34), after controlling for age (β = 0.83), resting HR (β = 0.52), RMR (β = 0.25), sex (β = 0.76, p > 0.05), and lifetime total years of physical activity participation (β = 0.19, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Years of participation in dance training was positively correlated with CPH scores, highlighting the possible health benefits of engaging in dance training throughout life. Future studies should test the relationship between dance training exposures and PD in a larger sample of adults. Supported by: National Endowment for the Arts (Award: #1879058-38-C-21)