What can the life course approach contribute to an understanding of longevity risk?

Authors

  • David Blane Imperial College Medical School, London, UK
  • Bola Akinwale Imperial College Medical School, London, UK.
  • Rebecca Landy Queen Mary Medical School, London, UK.
  • Katherine Matthews University of Manchester.
  • Morten Wahrendorf University of Duesseldorf.
  • Hans-Werner Wahl Heidelberg University
  • Mark D. Hayward University of Texas at Austin
  • Aart C. Liefbroer Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute, University Medical Center Groningen and Vrije Universiteit
  • Gita D. Mishra University of Queensland, Australia
  • Isabel Ferreira University of Queensland
  • Ilona Koupil Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14301/llcs.v7i2.343

Keywords:

Longevity risk, positive health, social and biological plausibility, life course trajectories, social history context.

Abstract

Longevity risk means living longer than predicted. Attempts to understand longevity risk to date have concentrated on single diseases, usually coronary heart disease, and sought explanations in terms of risk factor change and medical innovation. In an opening paper, David Blane and colleagues point to evidence that suggests changes in positive health also should be considered; and that a life course approach can do so in a way that is socially and biologically plausible. Applying this approach to UK citizens currently aged 85 years suggests that life course research should give priority to trajectories across the whole life course and to the social and material contexts through which each cohort has passed. Testing these ideas will require inter-disciplinary and international comparative research. 

The opening paper is followed by commentaries by Hans-Werner Wahl, Mark Hayward, Aart Liefbroer and Gita Mishra. Finally Blane and colleagues respond to the points raised by the commentators.

   

Author Biographies

David Blane, Imperial College Medical School, London, UK

Professor Emeritus, Department of Primary Care and Public Health.

Bola Akinwale, Imperial College Medical School, London, UK.

Doctoral student, Department of Primary Care and Public Health.

Rebecca Landy, Queen Mary Medical School, London, UK.

Post-doctoral Researcher, Department of Medical Statistics.

Katherine Matthews, University of Manchester.

Post-doctoral researcher, Cathie Marsh Research Centre, Department of Sociology.

Morten Wahrendorf, University of Duesseldorf.

Associate Professor, Institute of Medical Sociology.

Hans-Werner Wahl, Heidelberg University

Acting Director, Institute of Psychology, Heidelberg University
Chair, Department of Psychological Aging Research

Mark D. Hayward, University of Texas at Austin

Professor of Sociology
Centennial Commission Professor in the Liberal Arts
Research Associate, Population Research Center
Director, Population Health Initiative

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Published

2016-04-28

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2016): Longitudinal and Life Course Studies

Section

Comment and Debate

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