Women Who Have Children Later in Life Tend to Live Longer Due to Genetic Longevity

Women who have children later in life tend to live longer because their genetics allow them to be more long-lived. This is supported by geneticist José Miguel García Sagredo (Burgos, 77 years old), who references three studies, the latest from 2023, which "demonstrate" that women with late pregnancies achieve a greater life expectancy.

Professor García Sagredo, an academic of Genetics at the Royal National Academy of Medicine (Ranme) and former coordinator of the Medical Genetics Service at the Ramón y Cajal Hospital in Madrid, explains various theories of biological compensation and aging speed that indicate women who become mothers after the age of 35 live longer because their genetics allow them to be more long-lived. The expert clarifies that it is not possible to determine how many more years "because these would have to be individual studies and these are statistical studies at a population level." In Spain, the life expectancy of women is around 85 years, and the average age of motherhood is approaching 33 years.

"Women who have spontaneous late pregnancies have a greater life expectancy," states the former president of the European Cytogeneticists Association. "There are several theories of biological compensation and aging speed that demonstrate that the ability to have children later is an indicator of late or prolonged senescence (aging of cells), it is a confirmation of a biological state," notes Professor García Sagredo. "This life expectancy translates into fewer chances of dying early from a disease and it is not a matter of when the age to have children is decided, but of the ability to have children late, which not all women have, and it is part of their biological constitution," he adds.

The biological indicator of late senescence is "having the ability to have a child at 35 years old because their biology is beneficial from the point of view of aging," clarifies the expert. However, although certain genetic factors influence achieving this greater life expectancy, the geneticist emphasizes that it is "essential to lead a healthy lifestyle with correct eating and physical exercise habits and with little metabolic stress."

The professor insists, however, that these studies should not encourage any woman to have children later with the idea of living longer. "I don't think it's sensible," points out García Sagredo, who recalls that pregnancy in an older woman has more obstetric risks and for the fetus itself. "What is being discussed is the ability to have children at an older age, which not everyone has."

The doctor also provided another curious fact about the longevity of the brothers of these mothers. "Males whose sisters gave birth at a late age tend to have a significantly longer life expectancy. This suggests that the link between prolonged fertility and longevity has a genetic component. Siblings share 50% of their genes, so the positive genes for greater life expectancy are shared," states the academic.

The statistical studies cited by the doctor have been collected in different populations (European, Chinese, Sami in Scandinavia, Israeli...) and are similar. "Therefore, Spanish women should not be different and there should be no distinctions between a Spanish woman and women of another race or nationality," points out the academic from Ranme.

Precisely, Ranme is celebrating the Marañón Week together with the Ortega-Marañón Foundation with the aim of creating a meeting and conversation place about health, medicine, culture, and humanities.