This subject was enticing to study. As an older mom and a biohacker, I am curious when I see things that indicate having your first child after the age of 25 is good. This study showed women who had their first child after age 25 were more likely to live to age 90 than those whose first birth occurred before 25!
What Were the Results of the Study?
“Maternal Age at Childbirth and Parity as Predictors of Longevity Among Women in the US.” This was part of the large Women’s Health Initiative study.
- 20,248 women, mean age 74
- 54% lived to age 90
- The odds of longevity were significantly higher in women with a later age of first childbirth — age 25 years or older
- Among parous women, parity was related to longevity for white women (not black women) where 2-4 term pregnancies versus 1-term pregnancy had higher odds of longevity
There are issues with study. The WHI average age was 73, so women who died at an earlier age were not part of the study. There are also confounding factors: older Moms tend to have more education and higher income, which may contribute to better health and longevity.
But there is something here.
There are other studies that show women who have had their last child at age 33 years or older had longer leukocyte telomeres. (Telomeres are the end of chromosomes and are a general indicator of biologic age. As you age, telomeres tend to shorten. Longer telomeres = better aging).
Whether having babies at an older age helps women age better, or women who are genetically healthier/younger are able to have babies at an older age, needs to be evaluated.
For those of you in the Bay Area who had your kids in your 30s and 40s, know the science data — biased as it may be — shows you have a higher chance of living to 90 (which we will need to do to see our grandchildren since we had our kids when we were older).
How Can Biohackr Health Help?
Biohacking can try to slow cellular aging. One of our biggest treatments we advocate is NAD levels. NAD, the mitochondrial powerhouse of the cell, is associated with cellular aging as NAD levels decline with age. You can test your NAD level and depending on the result (which sadly tends to be lower once you hit middle age), you can supplement with IV or oral NAD to raise your levels.
Slow aging so you can see those grandbabies.
