--- title: "Telomere Length and All-Cause Mortality: A Meta-analysis" description: "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." url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/telomere_mortality.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/telomere_mortality.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/telomere_mortality.html" type: "study" study_key: "telomere_mortality" journal: "Ageing Research Reviews" year: 2018 pmid: "30254001" doi: "10.1016/j.arr.2018.09.002" citations: 1 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" --- # Telomere Length and All-Cause Mortality: A Meta-analysis [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Telomere Length and All-Cause Mortality: A Meta-analysis **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/telomere_mortality.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/telomere_mortality ## Citation | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Journal | Ageing Research Reviews | | Year | 2018 | | PMID | [30254001](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30254001/) | | DOI | [10.1016/j.arr.2018.09.002](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2018.09.002) | | Study key | telomere_mortality | ## Takeaway 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? ## Hypothesis 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. ## Methods A meta-analysis was conducted using 25 cohort studies, including four unpublished cohorts from the Swedish Twin Registry (STR) and 21 published studies.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. ## Results 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. ## Conclusion 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. ## Verbatim from the abstract > Telomere attrition is associated with increased morbidity and mortality of various age-related diseases. ## Increased All-Cause Mortality Hazard for Shortest Telomere Length Quarter | Measure | Increased Hazard (%) | | --- | --- | | 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.* ## Where this study is used on Magellan This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions. | Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages | | --- | --- | --- | | Telomere Support | — | — | | Epigenetic Age (DNA-Methylation Clock) Testing | — | — | ## Reference 1. **Telomere Length and All-Cause Mortality: A Meta-analysis** Ageing Research Reviews 2018 · [PMID 30254001](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30254001/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.arr.2018.09.002](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2018.09.002) > Telomere attrition is associated with increased morbidity and mortality of various age-related diseases. ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/telomere_mortality.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/telomere_mortality.html","name":"Telomere Length and All-Cause Mortality: A Meta-analysis","description":"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.","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/telomere_mortality.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Telomere Length and All-Cause Mortality: A Meta-analysis","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/telomere_mortality.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/telomere_mortality.html#study","name":"Telomere Length and All-Cause Mortality: A Meta-analysis","headline":"Telomere Length and All-Cause Mortality: A Meta-analysis","datePublished":"2018","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Ageing Research Reviews"},"identifier":"PMID:30254001","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30254001/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2018.09.002","abstract":"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."}]} ``` ## Related on Magellan Longevity - [Leukocyte telomere length, cancer incidence and all-cause mortality among Chinese adults](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/x9.md) - [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) - [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md) ## Scope and disclosures Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).