Yesterday, Swedish longevity expert Jimmy Lindberg published a paper in Äldre i Centrum: Vetenskapligt Supplement on familial longevity. Lindberg, a longtime supercentenarian researcher, is currently pursuing a PhD in Social Work at Linköping University. She serves on LongeviQuest’s Global Validation Commission which evaluates longevity claims.
In the paper, Lindberg validated Swedish 108-year-olds born between 1853-1915 as well as their parents and siblings. With this data, Lindberg studied the lifespans of siblings and parents of 108-year-old Swedes, in comparison with the overall Swedish population born during the same time period. The results reveal that siblings and parents of the oldest people, on average, live several years longer than the general Swedish population, have greater survival beyond the age of 50, and produce a greater proportion of 90- and 100-year-olds. This study provides insight into exceptional longevity within families, which may be relevant far beyond Sweden.
The full published paper is available here.
Figure 1. Survival in siblings of Swedish 108-year-olds (kvinnliga/manliga syskon) compared to the Swedish population born in 1900 (kvinnor/män födda 1900). The proportion (andel) of siblings surviving longer past age 50 was higher in siblings of Swedish 108-year-olds than the Swedish population born in 1900. Figure published in Äldre i Centrum: Vetenskapligt Supplement.
