Oxidative stress, telomere length, and frailty in an elder population

Background and objectives: A global aging population requires focus on the risk factors for unhealthy aging, preventive medicine, and chronic disease management. The identification of adverse health outcomes in older adults has been addressed by the characterization of frailty as a biological syndrome. On the other hand, oxidative stress and telomere length have been suggested as biomarkers of aging. Here we evaluated the association of oxidative stress, telomere length, and frailty in an old age population. Research design and methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on 2015 data from 202 members from the Cohort of Obesity, Sarcopenia and Frailty of Older Mexican Adults (n=202; gender F/M ratio: 133/69; mean age: 69.89 +/- 7.39 years). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by dichlorofluorescin diacetate, and lipid peroxidation by malondialdehyde. Telomere length was determined using qPCR with SYBR Green Master Mix. Results: We found no effect of oxidative stress on telomere length or frailty, but association between telomere length and frailty. Oxidative stress, measured only as ROS and lipid peroxidation, seems to reach a homeostatic level in our older population, which has no effect on telomere length or frailty status. On the other hand, telomere length is associated with frailty, an accurate identifier of health outcome. Discussion and implications: Hence, it would seem that telomere length could eventually be used as a marker to discriminate between healthy and unhealthy aging, but oxidative stress is not suited as a biomarker but perhaps just as part of the progression of unhealthy aging.