Smoking and diabetes cause telomere shortening among alcohol use disorder patients

Abstract The length of telomeres located at the ends of chromosomes has attracted attention as an indicator of cellular and individual aging. Various diseases or stresses cause telomere shortening, and it has been reported that alcohol use disorder patients actually have shorter telomeres than healthy patients. However, the factors that contribute to the reduction in telomere length among alcohol use disorder patients have not been clarified in detail. Therefore, in this study, we explored the factors that reduce telomere length in alcohol use disorder patients. A questionnaire survey and a measurement of leukocyte telomere length were conducted among alcohol use disorder patients. The mean telomere length of leukocyte was measured by ∆∆Ct analysis using a real-time PCR. We compared the telomere length between alcohol use disorder patients and the control group (Japanese special health check-up examinee). Moreover, we searched for factors associated with telomere length from drinking/smoking characteristics and history of comorbidities. A total of 74 subjects had alcohol use disorder, and 68 were in the control group. Compared to the control group, alcohol use disorder patients had significantly shorter telomere lengths (p < 0.001). A multivariate analysis revealed that a longer duration of smoking resulted in a significantly shorter telomere length (p = 0.0129). In addition, a comparison of the telomere length between the groups with and without a history of suffering from each disease revealed that telomere length was significantly shorter in the group with diabetes than in the group without diabetes (p = 0.0371). This study reveals that in individuals with alcohol dependence, particularly, prolonged smoking habits and the presence of diabetes contribute to telomere shortening. Medication and support for abstinence from alcohol has been mainly provided for alcohol use disorder patients. Our findings demonstrate a potential support approach via smoking cessation programs and controlling diabetes, which may be helpful to suppress the shortening of healthy life expectancy among alcohol use disorder patients

Smoking and diabetes cause telomere shortening among alcohol use disorder patients

The length of telomeres located at the ends of chromosomes has attracted attention as an indicator of cellular and individual aging. Various diseases or stresses cause telomere shortening, and it has been reported that alcohol use disorder patients actually have shorter telomeres than healthy patients. However, the factors that contribute to the reduction in telomere length among alcohol use disorder patients have not been clarifed in detail. Therefore, in this study, we explored the factors that reduce telomere length in alcohol use disorder patients. A questionnaire survey and a measurement of leukocyte telomere length were conducted among alcohol use disorder patients. The mean telomere length of leukocyte was measured by ∆∆Ct analysis using a real-time PCR. We compared the telomere length between alcohol use disorder patients and the control group (Japanese special health check-up examinee). Moreover, we searched for factors associated with telomere length from drinking/smoking characteristics and history of comorbidities. A total of 74 subjects had alcohol use disorder, and 68 were in the control group. Compared to the control group, alcohol use disorder patients had signifcantly shorter telomere lengths (p< 0.001). A multivariate analysis revealed that a longer duration of smoking resulted in a signifcantly shorter telomere length (p= 0.0129). In addition, a comparison of the telomere length between the groups with and without a history of sufering from each disease revealed that telomere length was signifcantly shorter in the group with diabetes than in the group without diabetes (p= 0.0371). This study reveals that in individuals with alcohol dependence, particularly, prolonged smoking habits and the presence of diabetes contribute to telomere shortening. Medication and support for abstinence from alcohol has been mainly provided for alcohol use disorder patients. Our fndings demonstrate a potential support approach via smoking cessation programs and controlling diabetes, which may be helpful to suppress the shortening of healthy life expectancy among alcohol use disorder patients.Scientific Reports, 14(1), art. no. 4701; 202

Predictive factors for hyperglycaemic progression in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder

Background: Patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder have a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Aims: To identify predictive factors for hyperglycaemic progression in individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and to determine whether hyperglycaemic progression rates differ among antipsychotics in regular clinical practice. Method: We recruited 1166 patients who initially had normal or prediabetic glucose levels for a nationwide, multisite, l-year prospective cohort study to determine predictive factors for hyperglycaemic progression. We also examined whether hyperglycaemic progression varied among patients receiving monotherapy with the six most frequently used antipsychotics. Results: High baseline serum triglycerides and coexisting hypertension significantly predicted hyperglycaemic progression. The six most frequently used antipsychotics did not significantly differ in their associated hyperglycaemic progression rates over the 1-year observation period. Conclusions: Clinicians should carefully evaluate baseline serum triglycerides and coexisting hypertension and perform strict longitudinal monitoring irrespective of the antipsychotic used