Older first-time mums live longer

PREVIOUSLY, fertility experts had been warning women that the trend for them to delay their first pregnancy to later in life may leave them childless in the end. But a new study by scientists at Portugal’s Coimbra University brings older mothers some good news.

The researchers analysed data from 2004 to 2013 on women in 28 European countries, comparing their life expectancies at age 65 to the age they were when they had their first child.

Women who became mothers later in life were more likely to live longer than those who gave birth in their teens and 20s, according to a paper published in the American Journal of Public Health.

“The most relevant result shows that women tend to live longer the older they are when they get pregnant (in particular, for the first child),” said lead study author Aladdin H. Shadyab, a postdoctoral fellow in epidemiology at the University of California San Diego.

“As the age of pregnancy increases, so does the life expectancy of the women at 65. In other words, the older the women are at birth, the longer they live.”

The study stated that “it may be justified to promote pregnancy in the early 30s as a means to extend women’s life span”.

A second study, published in the Menopause journal, also found that mothers who gave birth at age 33 or older were three times more like to have certain DNA markers for longevity than mothers who gave birth younger.

Although neither study was able to zero in on why this is, scientists do have some theories.

According to Shadyab, a lot of researchers believe that women who are able to have a child at an older age are just generally healthier.

“Because being older at childbirth can lead to complications for both the mother and child, those who do it and survive are likely more healthy,” he added.

He also pointed to the trend that older mothers tend to be of a higher social status. “We know a lot of the time women are delaying having kids because they’re finishing school and starting their careers, and generally more educated people of higher income live longer.”

In addition, a healthy reproductive system that allows women to conceive into their 30s is an indication that they may go into menopause later, which is also linked to longevity, Shadyab said. – Agencies goals and work with them to improve their form and help prevent injuries.

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