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Biodemography of human longevity

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Theory:
– Biodemographic studies show similarity in survival dynamics between humans and laboratory animals
– Three general biodemographic laws of survival: Gompertz–Makeham law of mortality, Compensation law of mortality, Late-life mortality deceleration
– Gompertz–Makeham law: death rate is a sum of age-independent and age-dependent components
– Compensation law: relative differences in death rates decrease with age
– Disputed late-life mortality deceleration law suggests death rates level off at advanced ages

See also:
– Stress Modeling
Demography
– Biodemography
Longevity
Life extension

References:
– Mortality Measurement at Advanced Ages study by Gavrilov and Gavrilova
– Mortality underestimation at older ages press release
– Modelling life tables with advanced ages study by Huang, Maller, and Ning
– Common sense and the limits to life study by Gavrilov
– Does a limit of the life span really exist study by Gavrilov

Further reading:
– The Biology of Life Span: A Quantitative Approach by Gavrilov & Gavrilova
– Genealogical data and biodemography of human longevity study by Gavrilov, Gavrilova, Olshansky, and Carnes
– Biodemographic study of familial determinants of human longevity by Gavrilov and Gavrilova

Biodemography is a multidisciplinary approach, integrating biological knowledge (studies on human biology and animal models) with demographic research on human longevity and survival. Biodemographic studies are important for understanding the driving forces of the current longevity revolution (dramatic increase in human life expectancy), forecasting the future of human longevity, and identification of new strategies for further increase in healthy and productive life span.

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