Babies of younger mothers are likely to live longer than those born to older women, says a study.
US researchers analyzed census data and information from genealogical records to reconstruct the family trees of almost 200 centenarians.
They found that babies born to women under 25 are almost twice as likely to live to 100 as those born to older mothers, reported the online edition of Daily Mail.
Previous work by the University of Chicago husband and wife team Leonid Gavrilov and Natalia Gavrilova had shown that firstborn children live longer than their younger siblings.
Now it appears the two are linked, with older children living longer because their mothers are younger when they have them. However, the father’s age has little effect on longevity.
The researchers say the reasons behind it could be down to simple biology, with egg quality being best in younger women.
“Maybe the eggs are different in their quality, and the best ones, the most vigorous, go first to fertilisation,” Gavrilov said.
The answer could also lie in younger women being healthier than their older counterparts, who have had more time to pick-up conditions and infections that could affect their baby’s health, he said.