Genetic and environmental risk factors for major depression in UK women and their association with telomere length longitudinally
Our findings suggest depression and its genetic liability are not directly associated with telomere length or attrition in older women. In contrast, waist-to-hip ratio, a modifiable factor, was linked to accelerated telomere shortening, pointing to central adiposity as a potential intervention target with relevance for both mental and physical health.
Authors
- Alexandra C. Gillett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5069-3197)
- Rodrigo R. R. Duarte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7666-9005)
- Claire J. Steves (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4910-0489)
- Leena Habiballa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3490-0667)
- Pirro G. Hysi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5752-2510)
- Timothy R. Powell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9891-4895)
- Veryan Codd (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9430-8254)
- Tsz Yan Wong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2554-7638)
- Ajda Pristavec
Institutions
- St Thomas' Hospital (GB)
- King's College London (GB)
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- NIHR Leicester Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Unit (GB)
- NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Affective Disorders
- Published
- 2025-12-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.120865
- Primary Topic
- Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- BrightFocus Foundation
- Wellcome Trust
- UK Research and Innovation
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- British Heart Foundation
- Department of Health and Social Care
- King's College London
- European Commission
- Versus Arthritis
- NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre
- Medical Research Council
- NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre