HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by O'Brien, E. Articles by Reed, D. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by O'Brien, E. Articles by Reed, D. L.

Familial Mortality in the Utah Population Database: Characterizing a Human Aging Phenotype

¹ Huntsman Cancer Institute, ² Department of Oncological Sciences, and³ Department of Family and Consumer Studies, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.

Address correspondence to Elizabeth O'Brien, PhD, University of Utah, Huntsman Cancer Institute (Rm. 4136), Salt Lake City, UT 84112. E-mail: elizabeth.obrien{at}hci.utah.edu

We examine the effects of familial longevity and familial mortality on mortality rates for 10 leading causes of death in a Utah Population Database (UPDB) cohort. Familial excess longevity (FEL) and familial standardized mortality ratios (FSMR) were estimated for 666,921 individuals born from 1830 through 1963, who survived to at least age 40. Cox regression analysis shows that familial death and familial longevity have independent effects on cause-specific mortality rates for 10 leading causes of death. A family history of disease increases one's risk of dying from the same cause, whereas a family history of longevity is protective, except in the case of cancer. Families with greater longevity do not die of causes distinct from other members of the cohort, but they die from the same causes at reduced rates. Individuals from longer lived families have lower mortality from most age-related diseases including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, but not cancer.