Genealogical data and the biodemography of human longevity

Abstract

Biodemography of human longevity is an emerging interdisciplinary field of sociobiological research with deep historical roots. Two research questions are examined in this article: (1) What evidence is there for the familial transmission of human longevity?, and (2) what are the effects of parental age at reproduction on offspring longevity, and in particular, are there long-term adverse health consequences associated with the trend toward delayed reproduction? The ability of scientists to conduct biodemographic studies depends not only on merging theoretical and methodological elements from the biological and demographic/actuarial sciences, but unique sources of data and statistical methods must also be developed. In this article we describe how gencalogical data have been used for over a century to explore basic questions about human longevity, and how similar kinds of data now being developed are driving the formation of new testable research hypotheses in the field of biodemography.