1. NORC and The University of Chicago
Familial Factors in Longevity: Exploring Complex Environmental and Genetic Effects
Leonid A. Gavrilov, Ph.D.
Natalia S. Gavrilova, Ph.D.
Center on Aging
NORC and The University of Chicago
Chicago, USA

2. Numerous studies showed that biological relatives of centenarians have substantial survival advantage compared to biological relatives of shorter-lived individuals.

3. Relatives of 1,711 centenarians born in 1880-1895
Who lives longer in centenarian families? Siblings > Spouses > Siblings-in-law
Relatives of 1,711 centenarians born in
Relatives:
Men
Women N
LS50*
Parents
1590
76.2
1557
77.2
Spouses
877
75.4
283
81.4
Siblings
5324
77.6
4877
82.4
Siblings in law
2363
75.1
2410
79.5
1900 US birth cohort
73.3
79.4
*Mean lifespan conditional on survival to age 50

4. Little is known about effects of centenarian’s sex on longevity of relatives
In this study effects of centenarian’s sex were used to explore genetic and environmental effects on longevity

5. Dataset
We have developed and analyzed a new computerized database on 1,711 validated centenarians born in in the the United States, their parents and 13,185 shorter-lived siblings.

6. Methods
Gompertz multivariate regression models were used to model survival time between age 50 and death for centenarian siblings. Models for brothers and sisters were analyzed separately. Student t-test was used to compare mean life spans.

7. Computerized genealogies is a promising source of information about potential predictors of exceptional longevity: life-course events, early-life conditions and family history of longevity

8. Steps of the study
23,127 records of centenarians born in with known information about parents were identified using the Rootsweb genealogical website
2,834 centenarians having detailed information on their 21,893 siblings were selected
1,711 centenarians with their death dates verified using the Social Security Death Index were used for further analyses
Finally data on 398 male and 1,313 female centenarians, their 13,419 siblings, 1,307 spouses, and 7,924 siblings in law were used in the study

9. Having centenarian brother is ‘better’ than centenarian sister (for males only)
Siblings of cente-
narians
Male centenarians
Female centenarians
P-value N
LE50
Brothers
1268
29.25
4056
27.09
<0.001
Sisters
1071
32.06
3806
32.45
0.328
Life expectancy of siblings at age 50 depending on the sex of centenarian

10. Survival of male siblings of centenarians, by sex of centenarian

11. Having centenarian son is ‘better’ than centenarian daughter (for fathers only)
Male centenarians
Female centenarians
P-value N
LE50
Fathers
374
27.22
1216
25.93
0.023
Mothers
362
27.97
1195
27.03
0.176
Life expectancy of parents at age 50 depending on the sex of centenarian

12. Male sex of centenarian is ‘better’ for brother’s longevity Gomperz hazard regression model for survival of brothers of centenarians after age 50. N=5,287
Covariate
Hazard ratio
95% CI
P-value
Father lived 80+
0.883
<0.001
Mother lived 80+
0.930
0.009
Married
0.913
0.025
Birth Year
1.003
0.011
Female sex of centenarian
1.172

13. Sex of centenarian is not important for sister’s longevity Gomperz hazard regression model for survival of sisters of centenarians after age 50. N=4,849
Covariate
Hazard ratio
95% CI
P-value
Father lived 80+
0.978
0.443
Mother lived 80+
0.931
0.013
Married
0.975
0.563
Birth Year
0.996
Female sex of centenarian
1.019
0.590 13

14. Sex-specific Survival Threshold (SSST) Hypothesis
Because of male and female centenarians have different survival threshold to reach age 100, sex-specific effects are observed

15. Test of the SSST hypothesis Compare siblings of male centenarians to siblings of females survived to age 103
Probability of survival to 103 for females is similar to probability of reaching age 100 for males (according to the 1900 U.S. cohort)

16. It is ‘better’ to have the same sex as your centenarian-sibling
Male centenarians
Females survived to age 103
P-value (diff.in LS) N
LE50
Brothers
1268
29.25
990
27.65
0.0009
Sisters
1071
32.06
963
33.85
0.0008
Fathers
374
27.22
294
25.82
0.112
Mothers
362
27.97
291
26.96
0.276
Life expectancy of siblings at age 50 depending on the sex of centenarian

17. SSST Hypothesis is confirmed for brothers of centenarians Gomperz hazard regression model for survival of male centenarian brothers and brothers of females lived 103+ years after age 50. N=2,243
Covariate
Hazard ratio
95% CI
P-value
Father lived 80+
0.899
0.013
Mother lived 80+
0.910
0.027
Married
0.926
0.209
Birth Year
1.005
0.025
Female sex of centenarian
1.064
0.147 17

18. SSST Hypothesis is NOT confirmed for sisters of centenarians: sex is still important Gomperz hazard regression model for survival of male centenarian sisters and sisters of females lived 103+ years after age 50. N=2,022
Covariate
Hazard ratio
95% CI
P-value
Father lived 80+
0.984
0.727
Mother lived 80+
0.895
0.014
Married
1.028
0.695
Birth Year
0.996
0.113
Female sex of centenarian
0.858
0.001 18

19. Using siblings-in-law as a control group
Siblings-in-law do not share genetic background and living conditions with centenarians
On the other hand, they usually come from a similar socio-economic background, so may be a good control group

20. Sex of centenarian is important for siblings but not for siblings-in-law
Married relatives:
Male centenarians
Females centenarians
P-value N
LE50
Brothers
784
29.53
2437
27.12
<0.001
Sisters
650
31.36
2378
32.40
0.045
Brothers in law
492
24.95
1857
25.06
0.846
Sisters in law
611
29.22
1796
29.55
0.539
Life expectancy of relatives at age 50 depending on the sex of centenarian

21. Only women benefit from having centenarian spouse
Centenarian spouses
Sibling spouses
P-value
Sex of spouse N
LE50
Men
875
25.40
2349
25.04
0.411
Men (married to 103+ centenarians)
214
25.36 NS
Women
283
31.40
2407
29.46
0.007
Life expectancy of spouses at age 50 depending on the sex of centenarian

22. For sisters of centenarians father’s longevity becomes unimportant Gomperz hazard regression model for survival of centenarian sisters after age 50. N=3,141
Covariate
Hazard ratio
95% CI
P-value
Father lived 80+
1.005
0.902
Mother lived 80+
0.923
0.032
Spouse lived 80+
0.905
0.020
Birth Year
0.994
0.001
Female sex of centenarian
0.975
0.577 22

23. For brothers of centenarians father’s longevity is still important Gomperz hazard regression model for survival of centenarian married brothers after age 50. N=3,141
Covariate
Hazard ratio
95% CI
P-value
Father lived 80+
0.918
0.019
Mother lived 80+
0.919
0.020
Spouse lived 80+
0.868
<0001
Birth Year
1.002
0.178
Female sex of centenarian
1.183 23

24. Conclusion
Familial factors in human longevity are likely to be sex-specific.
Exploring complex environmental and genetic effects in longevity could be facilitated by further analysis of sex-specific effects 24

25. This study was made possible thanks to:
Acknowledgments
This study was made possible thanks to:
generous support from the National Institute on Aging grant #R01AG028620 25

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27. Exceptional longevity in a family of Iowa farmers
Father: Mike Ackerman, Farmer, lived 74 years
Mother: Mary Hassebroek lived 91 years
Engelke "Edward" M. Ackerman b: 28 APR 1892 in Iowa 101
Fred Ackerman b: 19 JUL 1893 in Iowa
Harmina "Minnie" Ackerman b: 18 SEP 1895 in Iowa 100
Lena Ackerman b: 21 APR 1897 in Iowa
Peter M. Ackerman b: 26 MAY 1899 in Iowa
Martha Ackerman b: 27 APR 1901 in IA
Grace Ackerman b: 2 OCT 1904 in IA
Anna Ackerman b: 29 JAN 1907 in IA
Mitchell Johannes Ackerman b: 25 FEB 1909 in IA