Finally, here is a research study which has something positive to say about advanced maternal age. Women who have babies the natural way (e.g. without the aid of assisted reproduction) late in life tend to live longer than other women. In fact, women who become pregnant at age 45 or older have a lower likelihood of dying soon after their 50^th birthday than women who deliver babies at the age of 40 or younger. Much more, it is not only the late fertile women who live longer, but their blood relatives as well.

Women are always warned, advised against having babies late in life. Advanced maternal age has been linked to a lot of pregnancy complications that present health risks to both mother and child. But it seems that once these hurdles are overcome, late-bearing women are actually rewarded with a longer lifespan. So what is it that makes them live longer.

The reason for the link between “late fertility” and longevity lie in the genes, accoridng to researchers at the University of Utah. In a study of health and family records of about 18,000 Utah and Quebec residents from the 1600s to the 1800s, late fertility in a female member of the family has been linked to longer lifespan to other family members. Brothers of women with late babies, for example, tend to live longer that those who didn’t have late-bearing sisters. However, while the brothers live longer, their wives didn’t (sisters-in-lwas aren’t blood relatives), indicating that environmental factors (good nutrition, healthy lifestyle) don’t play an important role in this aspect of longevity but genetic factors do.

As mom of twins who were born premature and with low birth weights, I always keep my eyes and ears open for the latest developments in birth weight research. Low birth weight has always been associated with health problems such as heart diseases and diabetes in adulthood. But what about high birth weights?

A large-scale Scandinavian study shows that there is a relationship between an individual`s life span and his/her weight at birth. And it`s not only small babies who are at risk. Extra-large babies were shown to be in danger as well.

The study studied 216,464 individuals born between 1935 and 1980 and looked at their mortality risks in adulthood (ages 25 to 68 years). Their results show that:

• Babies who weighed between 2 and 2.75 kg (about 4.4 to 6 lbs) have 17% higher mortality risk as adults.
• Babies who weighed 4.25 to 5.5 kg (about 9.4 to 12 lbs) have 7% higher mortality risks as adults.
• It seems that the ideal birth weight that translates to the best longevity is between 3.25 and 3.750 kg (about 7.1 to 8.3 lbs).

The researchers also looked at the causes of death with the following findings:

• Those with very low as well as very high birth weights will have higher chances of developing cardiovascular diseases and having problems with their blood sugar.
• Those with low birth weights have the lowest risk of dying from cancer. Cancer risk seems to increase with increasing birth weight.

Of course, we musn`t forget that other factors such as nutrition, physical activity, lifestyle, and genetics also play a role in an individual`s longevity

The birth weight of our babies is partly determined by our eating habits during pregnancy. We, moms, can influence our children`s health well into adulthood and even how long they would live. Now, that`s a rather awesome but also scary thought!

Source:

Baker JL, Olsen LW, S?rensen TI. Weight at birth and all-cause mortality in adulthood. Epidemiology. 2008 Mar;19(2):197-203.

Babycenter.com, 22 March 2008