Is there an association between telomere length and all-cause mortality?
Telomere Support, a meta-analysis in 12,083 individuals (Ageing Research Reviews 2018, PMID 30254001) — in STR studies, a one standard deviation decrement in leukocyte telomere length corresponded to a 13% increased all-cause mortality risk. However, heterogeneity in effect estimation was observed, which may be influenced by telomere length measurement techniques and age at measurement.
Source: Ageing Research Reviews 2018, PMID 30254001 ↗ · Research map · How Magellan grades evidence · evidence confidence: high
Ageing Research Reviews · 2018 · PMID 30254001 · DOI 10.1016/j.arr.2018.09.002
Shorter telomere length is linked to a higher risk of death from all causes, though the strength of this link varies with age and measurement methods.
The question
Is there an association between telomere length and all-cause mortality?
What they tested
The study implicitly hypothesizes that shorter telomere length is associated with increased all-cause mortality risk, given the known association of telomere attrition with age-related diseases.
How they did it
A meta-analysis was conducted using 25 cohort studies, including four unpublished cohorts from the Swedish Twin Registry (STR) and 21 published studies. The analysis included 12,083 individuals with 2517 deaths from STR studies and a total of 121,749 individuals with 21,763 deaths across all eligible studies. The association between telomere length and all-cause mortality risk was assessed, including stratified analyses by age.
What they found
In STR studies, a one standard deviation decrement in leukocyte telomere length corresponded to a 13% increased all-cause mortality risk. Individuals in the shortest telomere length quarter had a 44% higher hazard than those in the longest quarter. Across all eligible studies, a one standard deviation telomere length decrement was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.09. Individuals in the shortest telomere length quarter had a 26% higher hazard compared to the longest quarter. The hazard ratio was smaller in individuals over 80 years old.
| STR Studies | 44 | |
|---|---|---|
| All Eligible Studies | 26 |
Individuals in the shortest telomere length quarter showed a higher hazard for all-cause mortality compared to those in the longest quarter.
What it means
Short telomeres are associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality in the general population. However, heterogeneity in effect estimation was observed, which may be influenced by telomere length measurement techniques and age at measurement.
Limitations
The study noted between-study heterogeneity in the meta-analysis, and suggested that telomere length measurement techniques and age at measurement contribute to this heterogeneity.
The paper at a glance
| Title | Telomere Length and All-Cause Mortality: A Meta-analysis |
|---|---|
| Journal | Ageing Research Reviews |
| Year | 2018 |
| PMID | 30254001 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.arr.2018.09.002 ↗ |
| Topic | Biological age, epigenetics & aging clocks |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
Where Magellan uses this paper
This citation sits behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are set from the research and are independent of affiliate commissions.
Epigenetic Age (DNA-Methylation Clock) Testing
DNA-methylation clocks are among the strongest available predictors of lifespan and healthspan, and second-generation clocks predict mortality risk across many conditions. They provide an objective baseline and a way to measure whether longevity interventions are moving biological age in the right direction.
Telomere Support
Telomere attrition is one of the recognised hallmarks of aging, and shorter telomeres are associated in meta-analyses with increased all-cause mortality and age-related disease. Protecting telomere length is therefore a target of interest, though it is one factor among many in biological aging.
Molecules & mechanisms in this paper
Each of these is named in the paper’s own words above. Open the monograph for the full mechanism and its other citations.
Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). Is there an association between telomere length and all-cause mortality? [Plain-English summary of Ageing Research Reviews 2018, PMID 30254001, DOI 10.1016/j.arr.2018.09.002]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/telomere_mortality.html@misc{magellan_telomere_mortality,
title = {Is there an association between telomere length and all-cause mortality?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/telomere_mortality.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 30254001; DOI 10.1016/j.arr.2018.09.002; Ageing Research Reviews 2018. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
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