Calen P Ryan, Nanette R Lee, Delia B Carba, Julie L MacIsaac, David T S Lin, Parmida Atashzay, Daniel W Belsky, Michael S Kobor, Christopher W Kuzawa
A central prediction of evolutionary theory is that energy invested into reproduction comes at the expense of somatic maintenance and repair, accelerating biological aging. Supporting this prediction are findings that high fertility among women predicts shorter lifespan and poorer health later in life. However, biological aging is thought to begin before age-related health declines, limiting the applicability of morbidity and mortality for studying the aging process earlier in life. Here, we examine the relationship between reproductive history and biological aging in a sample of young (20 to 22yo) men and women from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey, located in the Philippines (n = 1,735)...
April 16, 2024: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America