Early Life Conditions and Rapid Demographic Changes in the Developing World

This study presents findings from historical and survey data on over 144,000 older adults in 20 low- to high-income countries which suggest that survivors of poor early life conditions born during the 1930s-1960s are susceptible to disease later in life.

This book ****examines the long term consequences of improvements in life expectancy in the mid 20th century which are partly responsible for the growth of the elderly population in the developing world. Rapid demographic changes in child and infant mortality due to the reduction in and better treatment of disease were not often accompanied by parallel increases in standard of living. Lower mortality led to greater survival by those who had suffered poor early life conditions. As a consequence, the early life of these survivors may explain older adult health and in particular the projected increase in adult health disease and diabetes. Recent dietary changes may only compound such early life effects. This study presents findings from historical and survey data on nearly 147,000 older adults in 20 low-, middle- and high-income countries which suggest that the survivors of poor early life conditions born during the 1930s-1960s are susceptible to disease later in life, specifically diabetes and heart disease. As the evidence that the aging process is shaped throughout the entire life course increases, this book adds to the knowledge regarding early life events and older adult health.

Tests a tantalizing conjecture regarding mortality decline of the 20th century, early life conditions and older adult health in low and middle income countries. Uses a newly compiled cross national data set of over 144,000 older adults from 20 low, middle and high income countries in addition to using extensive historical data to test the conjecture Adds to the knowledge regarding early life events and older adult health

Inhalt

1: Aging Populations and the Determinants of Older Adult Health.- 2: A Contrarian Conjecture, Road Map, Ideal Data, Approach.- 3: Data Sources, Measures, Validity, and a Description of the Older Adult Population.- 4: Cross-National Morbidity Patterns.- 5: Cross-National Mortality Patterns and Health Disparties.- 6: Tide, Trick or Flow.- Appendices.- References.- Index.