Longitudinal Assessment of Telomere Length and Its Association with Ageing and Chronic Disease in Elderly Nigerians in Plateau State

Telomere length is an established biomarker of biological ageing, with shorter telomeres associated with increased risk of age-related chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. While telomere biology has been extensively studied in European and Asian populations, longitudinal telomere data in elderly West African populations are sparse. This study longitudinally assessed leukocyte telomere length and examined its association with ageing and chronic disease burden in elderly individuals in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. One hundred and twenty participants aged 60 years and above were recruited from communities in Jos North and Jos South local government areas and followed at 12-month intervals for two years. Relative leukocyte telomere length was measured at each time point using quantitative PCR (qPCR) with monochromatic multiplex technique. Clinical data including blood pressure, fasting glucose, lipid profiles, and body mass index were recorded. Telomere attrition rate was estimated from serial measurements. Greater telomere shortening over the study period was associated with incident hypertension and elevated fasting glucose at follow-up. Physical activity level was a significant positive predictor of telomere length maintenance. These findings establish baseline telomere dynamics in an elderly Nigerian cohort. Keywords: telomere length, ageing, chronic disease, elderly, Plateau State