Reporter brief

This observational study of 410 individuals with schizophrenia spectrum or affective disorders examined whether lifestyle factors were associated with telomere length, a marker of cellular ageing. Participants reporting healthy lifestyles had significantly longer telomeres than those reporting unhealthy lifestyles (Cohen's d = 0.58, p = 0.004), with an apparent dose-response relationship between increasing unhealthy behaviours and shorter telomeres (p = 0.02). The observed difference corresponded to approximately 6 years of biological age.

Assessment pending; this report does not establish a change in evidence.

• —Limitations have not been recorded; consult the primary source.

Observational; Human.

Individuals with severe mental disorders: schizophrenia spectrum (n=225) and affective disorder (n=185), collected as part of the Norwegian Thematically Organised Psychosis (TOP) study

Design

Observational

Sample

410

Journal

Translational psychiatry

Published

Sep 2, 2026

Healthy vs unhealthy lifestyle: Cohen's d = 0.58, F = 8.62, p = 0.004. Number of unhealthy behaviours: F = 2.69, p = 0.02. Individuals with healthy lifestyles exhibited roughly 6-year lower biological age compared to those with unhealthy lifestyles.

• —Assessment: Pending.
• —Only the source material recorded on this evidence page was assessed.

Not recorded.

See the Exercise timeline and recorded assessment for prior evidence.