ICPSR Researcher's Book Looks at Early Life Conditions, Effects on Health of Older Adults

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Mary McEniry

Mary McEniry, director of the Data Sharing for Demographic Research project at ICPSR, has published "Early Life Conditions and Rapid Demographic Changes in the Developing World: Consequences for Older Adult Health." The book presents findings from historical data and the RELATE study survey data on more than 147,000 older adults in 20 low-, middle-, and high-income countries.

The book examines how rapid reductions in child and infant mortality from the 1930s to the 1960s without an accompanying rise in standard of living in some developing countries resulted in cohorts that included larger numbers of infants and children who survived exposure to poor nutrition and infectious diseases but whose health may now be more at risk as they age because of these early life conditions. It reports that as a result of these historical circumstances there may be increased numbers of elderly people in some developing countries who are more susceptible to adult heart disease and diabetes and who are at higher risk of dying.

The book also discusses policy implications for the developing world as those nations experience disproportionate increases in the growth of their older populations.

The publisher is Springer Science and Business Media Publishers. ISBN: 978-94-007-6978-6

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Dec 6, 2013

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