Observational studyDrug and alcohol dependence2021
Telomere length is associated with HIV infection, methamphetamine use, inflammation, and comorbid disease risk.
Observational study in Drug and alcohol dependence, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 21 citations in OpenAlex.
- Telomere length dynamics in adults living with HIV: A systematic review.BMC infectious diseases · 2026Pooled it
- Infection and telomere length: A systematic review.PloS one · 2025Pooled it
- Molecular markers, mechanisms and metrics of biological aging: a scoping review.Frontiers in aging · 2026Review
- The Hallmarks of Ageing in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and the Impact of Antiretroviral Therapy on Telomeres: A Molecular Perspective.Current issues in molecular biology · 2025Review
- Neighborhood-level adversity and inflammation among sexual minority men living with HIV.Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association · 2025Article
- The Impact of HIV and Parasite Single Infection and Coinfection on Telomere Length: A Systematic Review.Current issues in molecular biology · 2024Review
- Telomere Length in a South African Population Co-Infected with HIV and Helminths.Current issues in molecular biology · 2024Article
- Accelerated aging in people living with HIV: The neuroimmune feedback model.Brain, behavior, & immunity - health · 2024Article
- A pathological convergence theory for non-communicable diseases.Aging medicine (Milton (N.S.W)) · 2023Review
- Decrypting biological hallmarks of aging in people with HIV.Current opinion in HIV and AIDS · 2023Review
- Twelve-year neurocognitive decline in HIV is associated with comorbidities, not age: a CHARTER study.Brain : a journal of neurology · 2023Article
- Review
- Ageing and older people who use illicit opioids, cocaine or methamphetamine: a scoping review and literature map.Addiction (Abingdon, England) · 2022Article
- Mental Disorders Are Associated With Leukocytes Telomere Shortening Among People Who Inject Drugs.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2022Article
- Review
- PTSD as an Endothelial Disease: Insights From COVID-19.Frontiers in cellular neuroscience · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
13 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundHIV infection and methamphetamine dependence (METH) are each associated with inflammation and premature aging, but their impact on biological aging is difficult to measure. Here we examined the impact of HIV and METH on leukocyte telomere lengths (LTL), and the correlations between LTL and other aging biomarkers.
methodsThe study was a cross-sectional analysis of 161 individuals categorized by HIV and methamphetamine (METH) dependence status into four groups: HIV-METH- (n = 50), HIV-METH+ (n = 29), HIV + METH- (n = 40), and HIV + METH+ (n = 42). We analyzed the relationships of leukocyte telomere length (telomere to single copy gene [T/S] ratio) with demographic and clinical data as well as a panel of biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial activation measured in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
resultsHIV and METH were independently associated with shorter T/S ratio, even after adjusting for demographics and leukocyte count (R
conclusionsHIV and METH dependence were each associated with shorter telomeres. After adjusting for demographics, HIV, and METH, T/S ratio remained associated with aging-related outcomes including neurocognitive impairment, neurodegeneration, risks of cardiovascular disease and stroke. While not establishing causality, this study supports using the T/S ratio as a biomarker for estimating the impact of HIV and comorbidities on long-term health.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.