Does Exceptional Human Longevity Come With High Cost of Infertility? Testing the Evolutionary Theories of Aging
Natalia S. Gavrilova, Leonid A. Gavrilov, Victoria G. Semyonova, Galina N. Evdokushkina
Center on Aging, NORC and the University of Chicago, 1155 East 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637-2745, USA
The purpose of this study is to test the prediction of evolutionary
theory of aging that human longevity comes with the cost of impaired
reproductive success (higher infertility rates, see Nature, 1998, 396:
743-746). Our validation study is based on the analysis of
particularly reliable genealogical records for European aristocratic
families. This dataset is appealing to use for two reasons: (1) it has
high data accuracy and completeness; (2) confounding effects of
socio-economic status are minimized in this socially elite group. The
dataset is comprised of 3,723 married women born in 1500-1875 and
belonging to the upper European nobility. Every case of childlessness
was cross-checked using at least two different sources. Data analyses
were based on logistic regression model using childlessness as a
dependent (outcome) variable, and woman lifespan, calendar year of
birth, age at marriage, husband's age at marriage and husband's
lifespan as dependent (predictor) variables. We found that woman's
exceptional longevity does not increase her chances to be infertile.
It appears that the previous reports of high infertility among
long-lived women (up to 50% of infertility rate, see Nature, 1998, 396:
743-746) are related to data incompleteness, caused by under-reporting
of children. Indeed, data cross-checking revealed that at least in 32%
cases the allegedly 'childless' women did in fact had children. Thus,
the concept of heavy infertility cost for human longevity is not
supported by data, when these data are carefully cross-checked, cleaned
and reanalyzed. Additional relevant information is available at our
scientific website (http://www.src.uchicago.edu/~gavr1/).
Key words:
Longevity, Infertility, Reproductive Cost, Evolutionary Theories of Aging, Reproductive Success
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