@article {312566, title = {The emergence of longevous populations.}, journal = {Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A}, volume = {113}, number = {48}, year = {2016}, month = {Nov 29}, pages = {E7681-E7690}, abstract = {

The human lifespan has traversed a long evolutionary and historical path, from short-lived primate ancestors to contemporary Japan, Sweden, and other longevity frontrunners. Analyzing this trajectory is crucial for understanding biological and sociocultural processes that determine the span of life. Here we reveal a fundamental regularity. Two straight lines describe the joint rise of life expectancy and lifespan equality: one for primates and the second one over the full range of human experience from average lifespans as low as 2 y during mortality crises to more than 87 y for Japanese women today. Across the primate order and across human populations, the lives of females tend to be longer and less variable than the lives of males, suggesting deep evolutionary roots to the male disadvantage. Our findings cast fresh light on primate evolution and human history, opening directions for research on inequality, sociality, and aging.

}, isbn = {0027-8424}, url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/27872299}, author = {Colchero, F and Rau, R and Jones, OR and Barthold, JA and Conde, DA and Lenart, A and Nemeth, L and Scheuerlein, A and Schoeley, J and Torres, C and Zarulli, V and Altmann, J and Brockman, DK and Bronikowski, AM and Fedigan, LM and Pusey, AE and Stoinski, TS and Strier, KB and Baudisch, A and Alberts, SC and Vaupel, JW} }