Physical Activity, Telomere Length, and Cardiometabolic Syndrome in Older Women: The Cardiovascular Health Study

Background: Cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) affects approximately 39% of US women and increases risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and stroke. Telomere length, a biomarker of cellular aging, is associated with CMS and may be influenced by physical activity (PA), potentially mitigating telomere shortening. Black women have higher CMS prevalence compared to white women and may exhibit distinct telomere length dynamics influenced by interactions between CMS and PA. Methods: Data were drawn from the Cardiovascular Health Study and included black and white women who provided data on PA, CMS risk factors, and telomere length (N = 417). Linear regression models examined the associations between CMS, PA, and telomere length cross-sectionally and prospectively, with analyses conducted separately for black and white women. Results: No associations between PA and telomere length were observed in black or white women. High-density lipoprotein levels <50 mg/dL were significantly associated with longer telomere length among black women, but no other CMS risk factors were associated with telomere length. There were no interaction effects between PA and telomere length when accounting CMS risk factors. Conclusions: PA did not significantly relate to telomere length in older black or white women, and CMS risk factors did not influence the PA–telomere length association. The association between low high-density lipoprotein levels and longer telomere length in black women warrants further investigation. Future research should consider larger samples, objective PA measures, and additional confounders to clarify the roles of PA and CMS in telomere length dynamics among older black and white women.