Late mothers more likely to live longer

Conceiving at an older age might have its own drawbacks, but a new research has revealed that women, who continue having children late in life, might live longer than those having kids at young age. Scientists believe the findings suggest the rate at which a woman's reproductive system ages, is directly linked to the speed with which the rest of her body ages.

This result is unexpected because late age at reproduction is not generally believed to be favoured by natural selection, owing to its adverse effects on both the survival of the mother and the offspring. According to the BBC, the results also fit with earlier studies that showed that later a woman goes through the menopause, the longer she is likely to live.

The physiology underlying both reproductive and general physical decline might be in some way linked and therefore the ability to have children until relatively late in life might be a sign that a woman is well equipped to live to an advanced age.