Aim 1:Telomere dynamics from birth to adulthood. We propose to characterize telomere length and its rate of erosion across various developmental periods between birth and 25 years of age.

Aim 2: Pre-natal health of mothers and early-life telomere dynamics. We propose to assess the longitudinal association between maternal body mass index, HDL/LDL ratio, cholesterol and triglyceride levels during the first trimester, and gestational diabetes as reflected by blood glucose levels in the mothers, and the rate of telomere erosion from birth to 25 (?) years of age in their children.

Aim 3: Early-life telomere dynamics and cardiovascular / metabolic outcomes in early adulthood. We propose to assess the longitudinal association between the rate of telomere erosion in children from birth to 15 years of age, and cardiovascular / metabolic health outcomes 5 - 10 years later including arterial stiffness, blood pressure, intima-media thickness, HDL/LDL ratio, triglyceride levels, flow-mediated dilation, adiposity, and fasting blood glucose.