Demography of Aging Chapter 2 Demography

Demography of Aging

• Chapter 2

Demography

• The statistical study

• of

• human populations

• especially with reference to:

• Size

• &

• Density distribution

• Vital statistics (epidemiology: births, deaths, diseases)

Probability of 50 year old living to 90, 1900 to 2002

Centenarians:

• USA 1990: Harvard University started New England Centenarian Study (JAMA 288:18 p. 2247, 2002).

• Data from this study refute the idea that aging represents an inexorable march…characterized by a steady decline.

• Rather, centenarians are generally in very good health.

• They are either:

• Escapers “People who have escaped any disease”

• Late onset of disease, 85+

• Early onset of disease which was overcome

• JAPAN 2004: Reports identify

• SSC (Semi-Super Centenarians), age 105+ years.

• SC (Super Centenarians), 110+ years

• In both groups, alterations in the gene coding for I / IGF-1 receptor

Probable causes for longevity in favor of women:

• Genetic (XX vs. XY) or Environmental (geography, country, income)

• Other causes:

• Lesser life stress in females

• Less smoking

• Protective action of estrogens?

• Lesser accumulation of mDNA deletions/mutations with better protection against oxidative damage

• Others?

• Implication for prevention and treatment

Older women whose parents survived past age 90 are generally healthier than women whose parents did not survive as long. These women …