Short Telomeres Plus Depression Increase Mortality Risk From Bladder Cancer

Meng Chen, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, reported these findings at the American Association for Cancer Research conference in Anaheim, Calif.

The study included 464 subjects with bladder cancer. Subjects with Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) scores of 16 or greater had an average survival time of 58 months, whereas subjects with CES-D scores below 16 had an average survival time longer than 200 months. When evaluating the combination of depression and telomere length, the researchers found that compared with subjects without depression symptoms (i.e., CES-D scores less than 16) and long telomeres, subjects with depression symptoms (i.e., CES-D scores of 16 or greater) and short telomeres showed more than a threefold increased danger of death from bladder cancer: 31 months versus 200 months.

More information about telomere length and mental health can be found in Psychiatric News.

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