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Telomere length predicts poststroke mortality, dementia, and cognitive decline
Martin-Ruiz C, Dickinson HO, Keys B, Rowan E, Kenny RA, Von Zglinicki T.. Annals of neurology, 2006-08-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Objective Long-term cognitive development is variable among stroke survivors, with a high proportion developing dementia. Early identification of those at risk is highly desirable to target interventions for secondary prevention. Telomere length in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was tested as prognostic risk marker. Methods A cohort of 195 nondemented stroke survivors was followed prospectively from 3 months after stroke for 2 years for cognitive assessment and diagnosis of dementia and for 5 years for survival. Telomere lengths in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were measured at 3 months after stroke by in-gel hybridization. Hazard ratios for survival in relation to telomere length and odds ratios for dementia were estimated using multivariate techniques, and changes in Mini-Mental State Examination scores between baseline and 2 years were related to telomere length using multivariate linear regression. Results Longer telomeres at baseline were associated with reduced risk for death (hazard ratio for linear trend per 1,000 bp = 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.28-0.98; p = 0.04, adjusted for age) and dementia (odds ratio for linear trend per 1,000 bp = 0.19; 95% confidence interval, 0.07-0.54; p = 0.002) and less reduction in Mini-Mental State Examination score (p = 0.04, adjusted for baseline score). Interpretation Telomere length is a prognostic marker for poststroke cognitive decline, dementia, and death.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Martin-Ruiz, C., Dickinson, H. O., Keys, B., Rowan, E., Kenny, R. A., & Von Zglinicki, T. (2006). Telomere length predicts poststroke mortality, dementia, and cognitive decline. Annals of neurology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.20869
Vancouver
Martin-Ruiz C, Dickinson HO, Keys B, Rowan E, Kenny RA, Von Zglinicki T. Telomere length predicts poststroke mortality, dementia, and cognitive decline. Annals of neurology. 2006. doi:10.1002/ana.20869. PMID: 16685698.
BibTeX
@article{martinruiz2006-16685698,
author = {Martin-Ruiz, C. and Dickinson, H. O. and Keys, B. and Rowan, E. and Kenny, R. A. and Von Zglinicki, T.},
title = {{Telomere length predicts poststroke mortality, dementia, and cognitive decline}},
journal = {Annals of neurology},
year = {2006},
doi = {10.1002/ana.20869},
pmid = {16685698},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.20869}
}
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Key findings
- Results Longer telomeres at baseline were associated with reduced risk for death (hazard ratio for linear trend per 1,000 bp = 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.28-0.98; p = 0.04, adjusted for age) and dementia (odds ratio for linear trend per 1,000 bp = 0.19; 95% confidence interval, 0.07-0.54; p = 0.002) and less reduction in Mini-Mental State Examination score (p = 0.04, adjusted for baseline score).
Why it matters
Among non-demented stroke survivors, longer telomeres at baseline were linked to lower risk of death and dementia and less decline in Mini-Mental State Examination scores. This identifies telomere length as a prognostic marker after stroke, not a treatment or cure.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 45/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on institution's track record, so that was left out: it earned 44 of the 97 points we could judge it on, which is 45 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Annals of neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Annals of Neurology: journal h-index 437 (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 | 1 / 5 | 2006 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 261 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 11.9 citations a year over 22 year(s) since 2006 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 13 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Thomas von Zglinicki: h-index 92 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 0 institution(s) in 0 countries — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 16685698) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 44 / 97 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 44 of the 97 points we could judge it on is 45 out of 100. |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
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