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Cited by 607Evolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorAnimal Behavior and ReproductionGenetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms

Human longevity at the cost of reproductive success

Westendorp, Rudi G. J., Kirkwood, Thomas B. L.·1998·Nature
DOI 10.1038/25519
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Abstract

The disposable soma theory on the evolution of ageing states that longevity requires investments in somatic maintenance that reduce the resources available for reproduction. Experiments in Drosophila melanogaster indicate that trade-offs of this kind exist in non-human species. We have determined the interrelationship between longevity and reproductive success in Homo sapiens using a historical data set from the British aristocracy. The number of progeny was small when women died at an early age, increased with the age of death, reaching a plateau through the sixth, seventh and eighth decades of life, but decreased again in women who died at an age of 80 years or over. Age at first childbirth was lowest in women who died early and highest for women who died at the oldest ages. When account was taken only of women who had reached menopause, who were aged 60 years and over, female longevity was negatively correlated with number of progeny and positively correlated with age at first childbirth. The findings show that human life histories involve a trade-off between longevity and reproduction.

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Authors
Westendorp, R. G. J., & Kirkwood, T. B. L.
Affiliations
  • Leiden University Medical Center (NL)
  • University of Manchester (GB)
Corresponding author
Westendorp, Rudi G. J.
ORCID
Venue
Nature
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
1998-12
Volume
396
Issue
6713
Pages
743-746
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/25519
OpenAlex
W1598326569
Cited by
607
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 25
FWCI
40.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
Keywords
human longevity, reproductive success, disposable soma theory, aging, life-history trade-offs, age at first birth, offspring number, menopause, British aristocracy, Drosophila melanogaster, somatic maintenance
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Animals, Drosophila melanogaster, Biological Evolution, Family Characteristics, Female, Humans, Longevity, Male, Maternal Age, Middle Aged, Models, Biological, Reproduction, Social Class, Reproductive History

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