Title |
The emergence of longevous populations
|
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Published in |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, November 2016
|
DOI | 10.1073/pnas.1612191113 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Fernando Colchero, Roland Rau, Owen R Jones, Julia A Barthold, Dalia A Conde, Adam Lenart, Laszlo Nemeth, Alexander Scheuerlein, Jonas Schoeley, Catalina Torres, Virginia Zarulli, Jeanne Altmann, Diane K Brockman, Anne M Bronikowski, Linda M Fedigan, Anne E Pusey, Tara S Stoinski, Karen B Strier, Annette Baudisch, Susan C Alberts, James W Vaupel |
Abstract |
The human lifespan has traversed a long evolutionary and historical path, from short-lived primate ancestors to contemporary Japan, Sweden, and other longevity frontrunners. Analyzing this trajectory is crucial for understanding biological and sociocultural processes that determine the span of life. Here we reveal a fundamental regularity. Two straight lines describe the joint rise of life expectancy and lifespan equality: one for primates and the second one over the full range of human experience from average lifespans as low as 2 y during mortality crises to more than 87 y for Japanese women today. Across the primate order and across human populations, the lives of females tend to be longer and less variable than the lives of males, suggesting deep evolutionary roots to the male disadvantage. Our findings cast fresh light on primate evolution and human history, opening directions for research on inequality, sociality, and aging. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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United States | 83 | 17% |
United Kingdom | 30 | 6% |
Spain | 15 | 3% |
Australia | 13 | 3% |
France | 11 | 2% |
Canada | 11 | 2% |
India | 6 | 1% |
Germany | 5 | 1% |
Argentina | 5 | 1% |
Other | 65 | 14% |
Unknown | 234 | 49% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 383 | 80% |
Scientists | 77 | 16% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 14 | 3% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 4 | <1% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 3 | 2% |
Germany | 1 | <1% |
Switzerland | 1 | <1% |
Czechia | 1 | <1% |
Netherlands | 1 | <1% |
United States | 1 | <1% |
Luxembourg | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 185 | 95% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 45 | 23% |
Researcher | 38 | 20% |
Student > Bachelor | 22 | 11% |
Other | 15 | 8% |
Professor | 14 | 7% |
Other | 33 | 17% |
Unknown | 27 | 14% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 60 | 31% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 12 | 6% |
Social Sciences | 12 | 6% |
Psychology | 9 | 5% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 8 | 4% |
Other | 59 | 30% |
Unknown | 34 | 18% |