Reduced telomere length is associated with fibrotic joint disease suggesting that impaired telomere repair contributes to joint fibrosis

Peer-Reviewed Scientific Journal:
PLoS One

Size of study:
5,200 participants in the TwinsUK registry

Summary
The researchers in this study were interested in testing the hypothesis that telomere length is associated with synovial joint disease (including hip, knee and shoulder) that causes stiffness and pain. 5,200 participants in the TwinsUK registry had data on telomere length (measured by qPCR, the proprietary method used by TeloYears) and the traits of interest (hip and knee stiffness, total joint replacement (TJR, hip or knee) and fibrotic conditions (Dupuytren’s disease, frozen shoulder). After completing analysis of the data, a significant association was established between telomere length and fibrotic conditions (hip stiffness, knee stiffness and frozen shoulder) even after adjusting for age.

Link to study

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