Articles: Health: Longevity: New Study Of Factors Allowing People To Live To 100 Years Old

It is thought this effect might have to do with better quality eggs being used first, or less chronic illnesses in young mothers affecting the developing fetus.

The recent trends among educated white people having children at later and later ages, especially relative to incoming immigrant families, may result in a demographic shift in the next 100 years among old people, causing white people to be an even greater minority in old age than they were during their younger years. This shift in longevity could have implications for social benefit programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

• "It turns out that the whole phenomenon of first-born order and longevity is driven by young maternal age... It is very rare in science that you have such clear-cut results. But here, when we saw the results, we went 'Wow'" - study co-author Leonid Gavrilov.
• Study at Center on Aging at the University of Chicago was funded by U.S. National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the Society of Actuaries.

• How To Live To 100 Years Old

Sources:

• http://channels.netscape.com/atplay/package.jsp?floc=hp-tos-toda-h-01&name=fte/liveto100/liveto100