Telomere shortening in the association between accumulation of affective symptoms and later-life cognition

Abstract Persistent affective symptoms are associated with decline in cognitive function, yet the mechanisms are unclear. This study examined the role of telomere length (TL) and rate of telomere shortening (RTS) in this association. Using data from 1770 participants in the National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD), path models were run to determine if TL or RTS were involved in the longitudinal association between affective symptoms and cognitive function as mediators or common cause variables. In fully adjusted models, affective symptoms were significantly associated with search speed, but not verbal recall or the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-III (ACE-III). There were no effects of affective symptoms on cognitive function through TL or RTS and neither were associated with later-life affective symptoms. TL was associated with search speed in both models; RTS only in the unadjusted model. Results do not support TL or RTS as biological mechanisms linking affective symptoms and cognitive function.