Late reproduction is associated with extended female survival but not with familial longevity

Research Question It is unknown whether better long-term somatic maintenance is directly related to reproductive health facets, and whether there is a shared, and possibly genetic, predisposition underlying both somatic and reproductive aging. Here we investigate whether facets of female reproductive health are related to individual lifespan or familial longevity. Design Observational study including 10,255 females from a multigenerational historical cohort the LINKing System for historical family reconstruction (LINKS) and 1,258 females from 651 long-lived families in the Leiden Longevity Study. Age at last childbirth and number of children, as outcomes of reproductive success, were related to individual and familial longevity. In addition, the genetic predisposition in the form of a polygenic risk score (PRS) for age at menopause was studied in relation to familial longevity. Results For each year increase in the age of the birth of the last child, a woman's lifespan increased with 0.06 years (22 days) (p<0.005). Females who survived to the oldest 10% of their birth cohort each year had a 9% lower chance of reaching the age of their last childbirth (HR 0.91 95% CI 0.86-0.95). Females who descend from long-living families did not have a higher mean age of last childbirth. There was no significant association between familial longevity and genetic predisposition to age at menopause. Conclusions Female reproductive health associates with a longer lifespan. Familial longevity does not associate to extended reproductive health. Other factors in somatic maintenance that support a longer lifespan are likely to have an impact on reproductive health.