General ageing and ovarian ageing

Dorland, M.; Kooij, R.J. van; Velde, Egbert R. te

doi:10.1016/s0378-5122(98)00066-8

Cited by 52 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…With menopause occurring around age 50, women survive several decades longer than their gametes (Dorland et al 1998;Hawkes 2003). Why should women have such conservative life histories that they save up enough energy for 25 years of reproductive retirement?…”

Section: The Grandmother Hypothesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Grandma plays favourites: X-chromosome relatedness and sex-specific childhood mortality

et al. 2009

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Biologists use genetic relatedness between family members to explain the evolution of many behavioural and developmental traits in humans, including altruism, kin investment and longevity. Women's postmenopausal longevity in particular is linked to genetic relatedness between family members. According to the 'grandmother hypothesis', post-menopausal women can increase their genetic contribution to future generations by increasing the survivorship of their grandchildren. While some demographic studies have found evidence for this, others have found little support for it. Here, we re-model the predictions of the grandmother hypothesis by examining the genetic relatedness between grandmothers and grandchildren. We use this new model to re-evaluate the grandmother effect in seven previously studied human populations. Boys and girls differ in the per cent of genes they share with maternal versus paternal grandmothers because of differences in X-chromosome inheritance. Here, we demonstrate a relationship between X-chromosome inheritance and grandchild mortality in the presence of a grandmother. With this sex-specific and X-chromosome approach to interpreting mortality rates, we provide a new perspective on the prevailing theory for the evolution of human female longevity. This approach yields more consistent support for the grandmother hypothesis, and has implications for the study of human evolution.

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Section: The Grandmother Hypothesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Grandma plays favourites: X-chromosome relatedness and sex-specific childhood mortality

et al. 2009

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“…Somatopause and adrenopause are associated with general aging (Ravaglia et al 1996, Morales et al 1998, whereas menopause is the expression of reproductive aging (Soules et al 1998, Te Velde et al 1998a. There is some evidence that both general aging and reproductive aging are related (Dorland et al 1998, Kirkwood 1998. Furthermore, there is a strong association between age at natural menopause and age at death (Snowdon et al 1989, Snowdon 1990, WHO 1996.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adrenopause or decline of serum adrenal androgens with age in women living at sea level or at high altitude

Gonzales¹,

Góñez²,

Villena³

2002

Journal of Endocrinology

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The present study aimed to determine adrenopause or reduction of serum adrenal androgens with age at high altitude and at sea level. It was a cross-sectional study performed in 210 women resident at high altitude (4340 m) and 123 women living in Lima (150 m), aged 20-70 years. Fasting early morning blood samples were obtained. Serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulphate (DHEAS), androstenedione, testosterone and estradiol were measured by radioimmunoassay. Serum testosterone concentrations were greater in women living at high altitude than in those resident at sea level. Serum concentrations of DHEA, DHEAS and androstenedione were lower in women living at high altitude than in those living at sea level. The DHEAS/DHEA ratio was significantly greater, and the androstenedione/testosterone ratio was lower in samples from women living at high altitude. Among women older than 50 years of age, a greater decline in serum concentrations of DHEA was observed in those living at high altitude than in those living at sea level. Among women 60-70 years of age, serum concentrations of DHEA at high altitude were 46·9% of those in women of the same age living at sea level. Decay of DHEAS at sea level and at high altitude occurred from the age of 40 years. The decline was faster at high altitude than at sea level, and in women aged 60-70 years serum values of DHEAS at high altitude were 56% of those at sea level. In the same age group, serum concentrations of androstenedione among those native to high altitudes were 27·34% of the value at sea level. At sea level, serum testosterone concentrations did not change with age from 20 to 70 years. In women aged 20-39 years and 50-59 years, serum testosterone concentrations were greater at high altitude than at sea level (P<0·05). In those aged 60-70 years, the concentrations were similar in those living at sea level and at high altitude. At sea level and at high altitude, the serum testosterone/estradiol ratio increased with age (P<0·0034 and P<0·0001 respectively). This ratio increased at an earlier age among those living at high altitude (40-49 years) than among those living at sea level (50-59 years). Multivariate analysis showed that altitude (P<0·0001) and greater chronological age (P<0·001) were associated with lower serum DHEAS concentrations. DHEAS was related to chronological age (P<0·0001). Low serum androstenedione concentrations were related to living at high altitude at birth and greater chronological age (P<0·0001). In conclusion, adrenopause is attained earlier and is of greater magnitude at high altitude than at sea level.

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“…22 For example, it has been postulated that women with an unexplained fertility disorder may have a longer cell cycle, leading to fewer cell divisions and therefore fewer reductions in telomere length and a smaller pool of follicles. 21 We do not dispute the plausibility of such scenarios, in which the relationship between telomere length and menopausal age would depend on a woman's fertility status and reason for infertility. Nevertheless, their complexity underscores the need for prospective data collection in larger epidemiologic studies designed specifically to address the role of telomeres in determining reproductive potential.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…22 Yet these epidemiologic investigations have also not been entirely consistent, since longer average leukocyte telomere length was observed in women experiencing premature ovarian failure compared with women from the general population, 22 and poorly responding IVF patients older than 34 years with unexplained fertility disorder had longer lymphocyte telomere length compared with similarly aged fertile women. 21 Previous authors have explained the seeming inconsistencies in findings by attributing greater relative importance to one of the multiple factors that affect the reproductive lifespan by influencing the number of primordial follicles: the number of primordial germ cells, their mitotic ability, and the activity of telomerase. 22 For example, it has been postulated that women with an unexplained fertility disorder may have a longer cell cycle, leading to fewer cell divisions and therefore fewer reductions in telomere length and a smaller pool of follicles.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some studies have demonstrated an association between shorter leukocyte telomere length and earlier reproductive aging, including shorter reproductive lifespan and occult ovarian insufficiency [15][16][17] or poorer IVF outcomes, 18,19 while other studies have yielded negative or conflicting results. [20][21][22] We therefore sought to investigate the relationship between leukocyte telomere length and reproductive aging, as expressed by age at menopause in a cohort of women age 65 years and older.…”

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confidence: 99%

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