Genetic Biomarkers of Executive Stress

The purpose of this study is to examine whether stress predicts telomere length in individuals who hold executive-level positions. Telomeres are the caps at the end of each strand of DNA that may affect how cells age. Subjects will complete an online survey/interview and provide one blood sample or saliva samples. The goal is to understand whether stress predicts genetic markers of longevity.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stress

Detailed Description

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between overall levels of stress and telomere length. It is hypothesized that the high stress group (based on the Perceived Stress Scale)compared to low stress group will have shorter telomere length. A secondary aim is to evaluate whether different types of stress have differing degrees of association with telomere length. An exploratory aim is to assess for gender differences in the association between stress and telomere length. The investigators are collecting a number of other measures, including demographics, work sector, perceived social support, and medical history, in order to adjust for potential confounders in the analysis.

This study is an extension of earlier work Dr. Rasgon has done with Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn at UCSF on the relationship between telomere length and mood outcomes. The investigators hope this study will add to the growing body of literature on stress and genetic markers of longevity, specifically how stress level and type is associated with telomere length. The increased understanding gained through this study may provide leads for predicting age-related diseases and early mortality in adults, thus benefiting others in the future.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 51

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Stanford, California, United States, 94305
      • Stanford University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

100 subjects - individuals who hold executive-level positions. Participants are males and females, 18 or older, may be of any ethnic background. The investigators aim to recruit a diverse sample, reflective of the broader population.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. People of either gender >18 years of age.
2. Subject hold executive-level position as defined as meeting the following criteria: having managerial responsibility over an organization or substantial part of an organization and/or having strategic influence over the direction of the organization
3. Subject or representative is willing to sign the consent for prior to enrollment into the study, and to participate in all aspects of the study. Prospective subject must give verbal assent if unable to sign written consent.
4. Adequate visual acuity to complete questionnaires.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects will be excluded if they have any of the following medical conditions:

   1. active heart disease
   2. acute psychiatric disorder (hospitalized in the past year)
   3. any medical condition deemed exclusionary by the Principal Investigator (PI)
2. Subject has a history of cancer (except localized skin cancer without metastases or in situ cervical cancer) within one year prior to screening.
3. Subject is currently taking any medication deemed exclusionary by PI.
4. Subject is pregnant, lactating, or planning to become pregnant during the study period.
5. Subject is participating or has participated in another research study within 30 days prior to the screening visit.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Telomere Length	Subjects will come in for 1 visit to give a saliva or blood sample which will be used to measure telomere length.	1 day

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Stanford University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Natalie Rasgon, M.D., Ph.D., Stanford University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 12, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 12, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): October 14, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 21, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 18, 2017
• Last Verified: July 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 35668

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO