Effect of Centenarian Gender on Survival of Centenarian Family Members

Leonid A. Gavrilov, University of Chicago
Natalia S. Gavrilova, University of Chicago

This study explores the effects of centenarian gender on survival of biological and non-biological relatives of 1,945 validated U.S. centenarians born in 1880-1895. Male gender of centenarian has significant positive effect on survival of adult male relatives (brothers and fathers) but not female relatives. Comparison of married siblings and siblings in law of centenarians found a strong positive effect of centenarian male gender on survival of brothers and a weak positive effect of female gender on survival of centenarian sisters compared to the same-sex siblings in law. Finally, wives of male centenarians had a significantly better survival compared to wives of centenarian brothers indicating importance of living conditions. This study suggests that environmental conditions and lifestyle may play more significant role in exceptional longevity than it was thought before. These results support the idea of early-life programming of human aging and longevity.