New Developments in the Biodemography of Aging and Longevity

Abstract

Biodemography is a promising scientific approach based on using demographic data and methods for getting insights into biological mechanisms of observed processes. Recently, new important developments have happened in biodemographic studies of aging and longevity that call into question conventional aging theories and open up novel research directions. Recent studies found that the exponential increase of the mortality risk with age (the famous Gompertz law) continues even at extreme old ages in humans, rats, and mice, thus challenging traditional views about old-age mortality deceleration, mortality leveling-off, and late-life mortality plateaus. This new finding represents a challenge to many aging theories, including the evolutionary theory that explains senescence by a declining force of natural selection with age. Innovative ideas are needed to explain why exactly the same exponential pattern of mortality growth is observed not only at reproductive ages, but also at very-old postreproductive ages (up to 106 years), long after the force of natural selection becomes negligible (when there is no room for its further decline). Another important recent development is the discovery of long-term ‘memory' for early-life experiences in longevity determination. Siblings born to young mothers have significantly higher chances to live up to 100 years, and this new finding, confirmed by two independent research groups, calls for its explanation. As recent studies found, even the place and season of birth matter for human longevity. Beneficial longevity effects of young maternal age are observed only when children of the same parents are compared, while the maternal age effect often could not be detected in across-families studies, presumably being masked by between-family variation. It was also found that male gender of centenarian has a significant positive effect on the survival of adult male biological relatives (brothers and fathers) but not of female relatives. Finally, large gender differences are found in longevity determinants for males and females, suggesting a higher importance of occupation history for male centenarians as well as a higher importance of home environment history for female centenarians.

Exceptional Human Longevity

“…In addition, recent evidence suggests that mortality risk continues to rise even at extremely advanced old age, findings that oppose the conventional view that mortality rates flatten at very advanced ages. 128 Putative biomarkers of primary aging may also represent possible predictors of longevity 46, (Table 2). Each measurement has its limitations as a reliable biomarker for aging and longevity.…”

Predictors of Exceptional Longevity: Effects of Early-Life and Midlife Conditions, and Familial Longevity

“…Numerous studies found that biological relatives of long-lived individuals have a substantial survival advantage compared to relatives of shorter-lived individuals (Pearl and Pearl 1934; Gavrilov and Gavrilova 2001b, 2014; Kerber et al 2001; Gavrilov et al 2002; Willcox et al 2006; Perls et al 2007; Smith et al 2009a), while relatively few studies analyze life span of nonbiological relatives (Schoenmaker et al 2006; Mazan and Gagnon 2007; Westendorp et al 2009; Montesanto et al 2011). At the same time, nonbiological relatives may serve as a nonbiased environmental control group in contrast to the general population control.…”

The Future of Human Longevity

“…Life-history theory can not provide an accurate prediction of human longevity record - why is it 122 years (Jeanne Calment 1875–1997), but not 100 years only, for example. Also life-history theory can not explain why exactly the same exponential pattern of mortality growth with age (Gompertz law) is observed not only at reproductive ages, but also at very old post-reproductive ages (up to 106 years), long after the force of natural selection becomes insignificant (when there is no space for its additional decrease) [10]. …”