Telomere length and physical performance among older people-The Helsinki Birth Cohort Study.

Telomere length has been suggested a biomarker of aging and is associated with several chronic diseases. However, the association between telomere length and physical performance is not well known. Using both cross-sectional and longitudinal data, we studied 582 women and 453 men from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study at two time-points; a baseline examination in 2001-2004 at a mean age of 61 years and a follow-up examination approximately 10 years later in 2011-2013.

Association between dog ownership and type 2 diabetes in later life: the Helsinki birth cohort study.

Dog ownership has been reported to have beneficial effects on physical activity and emotional well-being, both known to reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D). The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between dog ownership during the whole life course and having T2D in later life. The study subjects consisted of 731 people (307 men and 424 women) from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study.

The Healthy Nordic Diet and Mediterranean Diet and Incidence of Disability 10 Years Later in Home-Dwelling Old Adults.

Background/objective: Diet has a major impact on a person's health. However, limited information exists on the long-term role of the whole diet on disability. We investigated the association of the healthy Nordic diet and the Mediterranean diet with incident disability 10 years later.

Dog Ownership from a Life Course Perspective and Leisure-time Physical Activity in Late Adulthood: The Helsinki Birth Cohort Study.

Objective We investigated the association between dog ownership during the life course and leisure-time PA (LTPA) in late adulthood. Methods We included 714 participants (mean age = 70.8 ± 2.

Early life stress and frailty in old age: the Helsinki birth cohort study.

Background: Evidence suggests that early life stress (ELS) may extend its effect into adulthood and predispose an individual to adverse health outcomes. We investigated whether wartime parental separation, an indicator of severe ELS, would be associated with frailty in old age.

Methods: Of the 972 participants belonging to the present sub-study of the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study, 117 (12.