Study finds “older” mothers live longer—to 95+. But, what exactly is “older?” In terms of maternal longevity, the definition of “older” just got younger. Six years ago I reported on The New England Centenarian Study that found women who give birth after age 40 were four times more likely to live to 100 or longer than were women who gave birth at younger ages.
That was really good news since the number of women having babies after 40 had almost quadrupled at that time. It was also welcomed news for many because women are marrying later and therefore, starting their families later. It was equally encouraging for women who wanted to become financially sound and establish themselves in jobs before having babies.
Research out of the Boston University School of Medicine and part of the Long Life Study confirms the New England’s Centenarian study finding and lowers the age to women having babies after 33. These younger, older mothers have almost the same possible longevity to look forward to.
The average age of a woman giving birth for the first time has risen dramatically in the United States over the past 40 years, driven by factors like education or career. A new study by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that women choosing to become first-time mothers later in life may increase their chances of living longer.