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Human Biodemography: Some challenges and possibilities

Author

Listed:
  • Kaare Christensen

    (Syddansk Universitet)

Abstract

This opinion report - in a series on the future of biodemography - focuses on promising areas that I think will be valuable to develop in the future in order to get a better understanding of the determinants of the health and well-being of elderly people. I discuss two major themes: i) the benefits of strengthening the ties between biodemography and medical-clinical disciplines to better understand the link between functioning/diseases/ vulnerability and mortality, ii) the male-female health-survival paradox (i.e., males report better health than females, but encounter higher mortality at all ages), and how this paradox may shed light on fundamental aging processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaare Christensen, 2008. "Human Biodemography: Some challenges and possibilities," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 19(43), pages 1575-1586.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:19:y:2008:i:43
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2008.19.43
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anne Case & Christina Paxson, 2005. "Sex differences in morbidity and mortality," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 42(2), pages 189-214, May.
    2. Olsen, Karen M. & Dahl, Svenn-Åge, 2007. "Health differences between European countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(8), pages 1665-1678, April.
    3. James Vaupel & Kenneth Manton & Eric Stallard, 1979. "The impact of heterogeneity in individual frailty on the dynamics of mortality," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 16(3), pages 439-454, August.
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    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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