Leukocyte telomere length and age at menopause.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional retrospective observational analysis
PubMed 24213145 · doi:10.1097/EDE.0000000000000017
What was done
The authors examined the relationship between leukocyte telomere length and self-reported age at natural menopause in 486 white women aged 65 years or older. Multivariable linear regression was adjusted for age, income, education, body mass index, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol intake. A secondary analysis evaluated 179 women with surgical menopause, and sensitivity analyses excluded women with unilateral oophorectomy, nulliparity, or menopausal age under 40 years.
What was found
Each 1-kb increase in leukocyte telomere length was associated with a 10.2-month increase in age at natural menopause (95% CI: 1.3 to 19.0). Women with the longest telomeres underwent menopause 3 years later than those with the shortest. No association was found among the 179 women with surgical menopause. When excluding women with menopausal age under 40 years, the estimated effect decreased to 7.5 months (95% CI: -0.4 to 15.5).
Why it matters
This study provides evidence that systemic cellular aging markers correlate with reproductive aging timelines in women.
Limits
The study was cross-sectional with telomere length measured at age 65 or older, decades after menopause occurred, precluding temporal or causal ordering. Age at menopause was self-reported retrospectively, introducing recall error. The sample was limited to older white women.
Cited by
- supports Women with a longer reproductive lifespan (later menopause) have longer telomeres.