Book contents
- The Biodemography of Ageing and Longevity
- The Biodemography of Ageing and Longevity
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- 1 The Eternal Youth of Ageing Research
- 2 Theories of Ageing across Ages
- 3 The Diversity of Longevity Metrics
- 4 The Meaning of ‘Exceptional Longevity’
- 5 The Inevitability of Senescence
- 6 The Untapped Potential of Zoo and Aquarium Data for the Comparative Biology of Ageing
- 7 Perspectives in Comparative Biology of Ageing
- 8 An Integrative Approach to Understanding Variation in the Form, Pattern and Pace of Ageing
- 9 Sex Differences in Lifespan, Ageing and Health in the Living World
- 10 Evolution of Human Reproduction, Ageing and Longevity
- 11 Lifespan and Mortality in Hunter-Gatherer and Other Subsistence Populations
- 12 Longevity in Modern Populations
- 13 Health Transition and Population Ageing
- 14 Limit of Human Longevity
- 15 Mortality Modelling at the Oldest Ages in Human Populations
- 16 Lessons from Exceptionally Long-Lived Individuals and Long-Living Families
- 17 Human Populations with Extreme Longevities
- 18 Socio-Economic Consequences of Increased Longevity in Contemporary Populations
- Index
- References
3 - The Diversity of Longevity Metrics
Statistical Considerations, Potential Biases and Biological Implications
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 November 2024
Book contents
- The Biodemography of Ageing and Longevity
- The Biodemography of Ageing and Longevity
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- 1 The Eternal Youth of Ageing Research
- 2 Theories of Ageing across Ages
- 3 The Diversity of Longevity Metrics
- 4 The Meaning of ‘Exceptional Longevity’
- 5 The Inevitability of Senescence
- 6 The Untapped Potential of Zoo and Aquarium Data for the Comparative Biology of Ageing
- 7 Perspectives in Comparative Biology of Ageing
- 8 An Integrative Approach to Understanding Variation in the Form, Pattern and Pace of Ageing
- 9 Sex Differences in Lifespan, Ageing and Health in the Living World
- 10 Evolution of Human Reproduction, Ageing and Longevity
- 11 Lifespan and Mortality in Hunter-Gatherer and Other Subsistence Populations
- 12 Longevity in Modern Populations
- 13 Health Transition and Population Ageing
- 14 Limit of Human Longevity
- 15 Mortality Modelling at the Oldest Ages in Human Populations
- 16 Lessons from Exceptionally Long-Lived Individuals and Long-Living Families
- 17 Human Populations with Extreme Longevities
- 18 Socio-Economic Consequences of Increased Longevity in Contemporary Populations
- Index
- References
Summary
For decades, researchers have tried to identify ecological and biological correlates of longevity, often using life expectancy and maximum lifespan as the gold standards. The recent increase in demographic data collected in non-model species has also led researchers to develop alternative metrics of longevity, especially in comparative analyses (e.g. 90% longevity). As a result, studies focused on longevity rely on heterogeneous statistical methodologies and use a variety of longevity metrics that are not always clearly defined. This lack of clarity has led to confusion in the interpretation of results and makes it difficult to compare results across studies. This chapter discusses the statistical interpretation of each metric and highlights potential biases associated with the missus of longevity metrics; conducts a systematic review of the various longevity metrics used across the scientific literature and analyses the content of scientific articles on longevity using topic modelling methodology; and illustrates, using two examples, the importance of selecting the appropriate metric based on the research question. Based on these insights, it provides a list of recommendations aimed at helping researchers to think carefully about the choice of metrics when studying longevity.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Biodemography of Ageing and Longevity , pp. 28 - 47Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024
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