Enhanced oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to telomere erosion. Friedreich's ataxia is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a reduction in frataxin expression that results in mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage. Furthermore, frataxin deficiency induces a strong activation of inflammatory genes and neuronal death. We investigated telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes of 37 Friedreich's ataxia patients and 36 controls.

Read More: Can telomere shortening in human peripheral blood leukocytes serve as a disease biomarker of Friedreich's Ataxia?