Maternal and Paternal Lines of Familial Longevity

Bibliographic Data

ID2884161
AuthorsThomas B L Kirkwood (0000-0002-6675-8944), Rudi G J Westendorp (0000-0002-0672-8372), R-G Westendorp
Year2001
Volume56
IssueHS1
Pages223-235
Publication date2001-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePopulation (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0032-4663 • E-ISSN: 1957-7966
PublisherCAIRN (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.3917/popu.p2001.13n1.0235
OpenAlexW2297164431
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited7

Westendorp R.G.J., Kirkwood T.B.L.- Maternal and Paternal Lines of Familial Longevity ; To investigate factors contributing to heritability of human longevity, we analysed associations between parent and offspring life spans in an historical data set from the British aristocracy. The data set spanned the period from 700 to 1875 and included a total of 6,415 males and 2,441 females with information on the dates of birth and death of the individual and of both parents. The demographic transition towards increased life spans began in this population around 1700. In the period between 700 and 1700, we found that the probability of longevity of men but not women was dependent on longevity of the parents, espe- ; cially the father. The probability of men and to a lesser extent women haying a long life was dependent on longevity of their spouses, indicating the positive influence of favourable environmental conditions on the chance of reaching old age. In the later period (1701-1875), after adjusting for environmental conditions, longevity of women and to a lesser extent men was dependent on their mothers. Longevity of women was also dependent on their fathers. These patterns suggest hypotheses about how longevity is genetically transmitted

Biology · Longevity · Sociology · Birth, Development, and Health · Climate Change and Health Impacts · Demography · Genetics · Insurance, Mortality, Demography, Risk Management

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