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Association between leukocyte telomere length and neurodegenerative diseases: a prospective cohort in the UK Biobank
Xiangting Chen, Yueqing Huang, Chunhua Zhao, Min Huang. Journal of Neurology, 2026-02-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Shorter LTL was associated with an increased risk of NDDs, including Alzheimer's disease (HR: 0.52, 95% CI 0.40-0.67, P < 0.001), dementia in AD (HR: 0.53, 95% CI 0.39-0.73, P < 0.001), unspecified dementia (HR: 0.74, 95% CI 0.58-0.95, P < 0.05), degenerative diseases of the nervous system (including other specified degenerative diseases such as circumscribed brain atrophy and senile degeneration of the brain) (HR: 0.62, 95% CI 0.45-0.84, P < 0.01), extrapyramidal and movement disorders (including other specified extrapyramidal and movement disorders such as a range of tremors, chorea, tics, and other abnormal involuntary movements) (HR: 0.63, 95% CI 0.48-0.82, P < 0.01), and mental and behavioral disorders due to use of alcohol (HR: 0.46, 95% CI 0.38-0.55, P < 0.001). Conversely, longer LTL was associated with a 3.71-fold increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) (HR: 3.71, 95% CI 1.91-7.18, P < 0.001). ML models confirmed the predictive value of LTL for NDDs. Shorter LTL increased the risk of several NDDs, while longer LTL paradoxically predisposed individuals to MS, especially in younger populations. ML models demonstrated strong potential for predicting NDD risks, enhancing our understanding of the role of telomeres in neurodegeneration.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Chen, X., Huang, Y., Zhao, C., & Huang, M. (2026). Association between leukocyte telomere length and neurodegenerative diseases: a prospective cohort in the UK Biobank. Journal of Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-025-13479-1
Vancouver
Chen X, Huang Y, Zhao C, Huang M. Association between leukocyte telomere length and neurodegenerative diseases: a prospective cohort in the UK Biobank. Journal of Neurology. 2026. doi:10.1007/s00415-025-13479-1. PMID: 41670794.
BibTeX
@article{chen2026-41670794,
author = {Chen, Xiangting and Huang, Yueqing and Zhao, Chunhua and Huang, Min},
title = {{Association between leukocyte telomere length and neurodegenerative diseases: a prospective cohort in the UK Biobank}},
journal = {Journal of Neurology},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1007/s00415-025-13479-1},
pmid = {41670794},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-025-13479-1}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Shorter LTL was associated with an increased risk of NDDs, including Alzheimer's disease (HR: 0.52, 95% CI 0.40-0.67, P < 0.001), dementia in AD (HR: 0.53, 95% CI 0.39-0.73, P < 0.001), unspecified dementia (HR: 0.74, 95% CI 0.58-0.95, P < 0.05), degenerative diseases of the nervous system (including other specified degenerative diseases such as circumscribed brain atrophy and senile degeneration of the brain) (HR: 0.62, 95% CI 0.45-0.84, P < 0.01), extrapyramidal and movement disorders (including other specified extrapyramidal and movement disorders such as a range of tremors, chorea, tics, and other abnormal involuntary movements) (HR: 0.63, 95% CI 0.48-0.82, P < 0.01), and mental and behavioral disorders due to use of alcohol (HR: 0.46, 95% CI 0.38-0.55, P < 0.001).
- Conversely, longer LTL was associated with a 3.71-fold increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) (HR: 3.71, 95% CI 1.91-7.18, P < 0.001).
- ML models confirmed the predictive value of LTL for NDDs.
- Shorter LTL increased the risk of several NDDs, while longer LTL paradoxically predisposed individuals to MS, especially in younger populations.
- ML models demonstrated strong potential for predicting NDD risks, enhancing our understanding of the role of telomeres in neurodegeneration.
Why it matters
In this UK Biobank cohort, shorter leukocyte telomere length was associated with higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and several other neurodegenerative conditions, while longer telomere length was linked to higher risk of multiple sclerosis. These are associations from a prospective cohort and do not establish that changing telomere length would treat or prevent dementia.
Study details
- Participants459,902
- Effect sizeHR: 0.52; HR: 0.53; HR: 0.74
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 51/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 49 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 51 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Neurology: journal h-index 208 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 4 / 4 | 459,902 participants |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 4 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 16.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Min Huang holds only 2 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Nanjing Medical University: institution h-index 508 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41670794) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 49 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 49 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 51 out of 100. |
| Total | 51 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1007/s00415-025-13479-1
- PubMed: 41670794
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Neurology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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