Early and extraordinary peaks in physical performance come with a longevity cost

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

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Early and extraordinary peaks in physical performance come with a longevity cost. / van de Vijver, Paul L; van Bodegom, David; Westendorp, Rudi G J.

In: Aging, Vol. 8, No. 8, 19.08.2016, p. 1822-1829.

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

van de Vijver, PL, van Bodegom, D & Westendorp, RGJ 2016, 'Early and extraordinary peaks in physical performance come with a longevity cost', Aging, vol. 8, no. 8, pp. 1822-1829. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.101023

APA

van de Vijver, P. L., van Bodegom, D., & Westendorp, R. G. J. (2016). Early and extraordinary peaks in physical performance come with a longevity cost. Aging, 8(8), 1822-1829. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.101023

Vancouver

van de Vijver PL, van Bodegom D, Westendorp RGJ. Early and extraordinary peaks in physical performance come with a longevity cost. Aging. 2016 Aug 19;8(8):1822-1829. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.101023

Author

van de Vijver, Paul L ; van Bodegom, David ; Westendorp, Rudi G J. / Early and extraordinary peaks in physical performance come with a longevity cost. In: Aging. 2016 ; Vol. 8, No. 8. pp. 1822-1829.

Bibtex

@article{bb6b43fa853f49a1ad3bd0eb5d379557,
title = "Early and extraordinary peaks in physical performance come with a longevity cost",
abstract = "Life history theory postulates a trade-off between development and maintenance. This trade-off is observed when comparing life histories of different animal species. In humans, however, it is debated if variation in longevity is explained by differences in developmental traits. Observational studies found a trade-off between early and high fecundity and longevity in women. Development encompasses more than fecundity and also concerns growth and physical performance. Here, we show a life history trade-off between early and above average physical performance and longevity in male Olympic athletes. Athletes who peaked at an earlier age showed 17-percent increased mortality rates (95% CI 8-26% per SD, p≤0.001) and athletes who ranked higher showed 11-percent increased mortality rates (95% CI 1-22% per SD, p=0.025). Male athletes who had both an early and extraordinary peak performance suffered a 4.7-year longevity cost. (95% CI 2.1-7.5 years, p=0.001). This is the first time a life history trade-off between physical performance and longevity has been found in humans. This finding deepens our understanding of early developmental influences on the variation of longevity in humans.",
keywords = "Journal Article",
author = "{van de Vijver}, {Paul L} and {van Bodegom}, David and Westendorp, {Rudi G J}",
year = "2016",
month = aug,
day = "19",
doi = "10.18632/aging.101023",
language = "English",
volume = "8",
pages = "1822--1829",
journal = "Aging",
issn = "1945-4589",
publisher = "Impact Journals LLC",
number = "8",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Early and extraordinary peaks in physical performance come with a longevity cost

AU - van de Vijver, Paul L

AU - van Bodegom, David

AU - Westendorp, Rudi G J

PY - 2016/8/19

Y1 - 2016/8/19

N2 - Life history theory postulates a trade-off between development and maintenance. This trade-off is observed when comparing life histories of different animal species. In humans, however, it is debated if variation in longevity is explained by differences in developmental traits. Observational studies found a trade-off between early and high fecundity and longevity in women. Development encompasses more than fecundity and also concerns growth and physical performance. Here, we show a life history trade-off between early and above average physical performance and longevity in male Olympic athletes. Athletes who peaked at an earlier age showed 17-percent increased mortality rates (95% CI 8-26% per SD, p≤0.001) and athletes who ranked higher showed 11-percent increased mortality rates (95% CI 1-22% per SD, p=0.025). Male athletes who had both an early and extraordinary peak performance suffered a 4.7-year longevity cost. (95% CI 2.1-7.5 years, p=0.001). This is the first time a life history trade-off between physical performance and longevity has been found in humans. This finding deepens our understanding of early developmental influences on the variation of longevity in humans.

AB - Life history theory postulates a trade-off between development and maintenance. This trade-off is observed when comparing life histories of different animal species. In humans, however, it is debated if variation in longevity is explained by differences in developmental traits. Observational studies found a trade-off between early and high fecundity and longevity in women. Development encompasses more than fecundity and also concerns growth and physical performance. Here, we show a life history trade-off between early and above average physical performance and longevity in male Olympic athletes. Athletes who peaked at an earlier age showed 17-percent increased mortality rates (95% CI 8-26% per SD, p≤0.001) and athletes who ranked higher showed 11-percent increased mortality rates (95% CI 1-22% per SD, p=0.025). Male athletes who had both an early and extraordinary peak performance suffered a 4.7-year longevity cost. (95% CI 2.1-7.5 years, p=0.001). This is the first time a life history trade-off between physical performance and longevity has been found in humans. This finding deepens our understanding of early developmental influences on the variation of longevity in humans.

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.18632/aging.101023

DO - 10.18632/aging.101023

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27540872

VL - 8

SP - 1822

EP - 1829

JO - Aging

JF - Aging

SN - 1945-4589

IS - 8

ER -

ID: 166166352