Investigating the relationship between telomere length and cognitive function

端粒长度是细胞老化的关键决定因素，它与认知功能和大脑体积呈正相关。我们的目标是使用双胞胎模型来探索共享的环境和遗传因素对这种关系的影响程度。然后，我们将使用纵向建模和群体遗传学方法，测试端粒长度是否可以预测9000名老年人的年龄相关认知水平，或者端粒长度是否与年龄相关的认知水平存在因果关系。最后，我们将使用Touk Biobank数据的神经成像遗传学方法，通过测试端粒长度与海马区特定亚区的关联，来探索端粒长度对大脑的影响。

Telomere length, a key determinant of cell ageing, demonstrates positive associations withcognitive function and brain volumes. We aim to explore the extent to which sharedenvironmental and genetic factors contribute to this relationship using twin modelling. Wewill then test if telomere length can predict, or is causally related to, age-related cognitivedecline in 9,000 older adults using longitudinal modelling and population genetic methods.Finally, we will explore how telomere length impacts on the brain by testing its associationwith specific subfields of the hippocampus, using neuroimaging genetic methods applied toUK Biobank data.