Biodemography of Exceptional Survival: Lessons from Longitudinal Data

Anatoliy I. Yashin, Duke University
Svetlana V. Ukraintseva, Duke University
Konstantin G. Arbeev, Duke University
Alexander Kulminski, Duke University
Liubov Arbeeva, Duke University
Irina V. Culminskaya, Duke University

Maintaining proper levels of physiological variables (body mass index, blood sugar, etc.) is often recommended for having a long and healthy life span. To accomplish this goal, quantitative definitions of the proper or “normal” physiological states are needed. In this paper we show that physiological norms defined as values of physiological states associated with the lowest mortality risk for a given age, as well as effects of allostatic adaptation, can be evaluated from longitudinal data. The case of aging-related changes in blood glucose (BG) level is investigated in detail. We found that average levels of BG increase with age for both gender. We also found that the average levels of BG in the group of exceptional survivors increases with age as well. The use of extended stochastic process model of human mortality and aging confirmed these estimates and allowed us to evaluate a number of other important dynamic characteristics of the BG process.