The extension of Gompertz law's validity

Mech Ageing Dev. 1997 Dec 30;99(3):233-44. doi: 10.1016/s0047-6374(97)00104-8.

Abstract

The interval 35-85 years is mostly considered as the range of Gomperz law's validity. Looking at the spectrum of causes of death for the interval 10-30 years we find that its main share is caused by various accidents independent of age. These accidents result in the increase and following plateau of the total mortality curve over the age of 15 years. When the number of deaths from age independent causes (accidents, violence, suicide, accidental falls, etc.) is subtracted from the total number of deaths the linear area begins before the age of 20 years. The linear regression of the logarithm of mortality without accidents was performed for the age interval 20-84 years for six populations (men and women in the US in 1989, in Japan in 1990 and in former Czechoslovakia in 1990). Furthermore, the mortality curves of some causes important at the interval 0-15 years were inspected. Unlike other causes, births do not affect the disposition of children to die of malignant neoplasm of the brain and malignant neoplasm of lymphatic and haemopoietic tissue.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging
  • Cause of Death*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Statistical
  • Neoplasms / mortality
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / mortality