Delayed onset of puberty and menopause may actually increase the longevity of women to 90 years, a new study published in the Menopause journal said.
The reason behind this was the lesser incidence of life-risking cardiovascular diseases, diabetes among such women, the study said.
"The odds of longevity were modestly higher in women with menarche ( onset of menstruation) at 12 years or older than the ones at below 12 years," it said.
The research suggested that there was increased chances of longevity even when menopause happened in the age group of 50-54 years as compared to less than 40 years.
One of the factors, according to the scientists, can be that women in whom puberty starts late and who also experience delayed menopause were less likely to be smokers or even have diabetes.
As a result, they were expected to live longer.
Nearly 16,251 women, whose average age was calculated to be 74.7 years, participated in the study. These women had an average of nearly 36 years of reproductive life. Of 16,251 women, who met the inclusion criteria for this study, 8,892 (55 percent) survived to 90 years.
"At baseline, women with later ages at menarche (onset of puberty) and menopause were more likely to be in very good health and have never smoked, and less likely to be obese or have a history of diabetes Women with later menarche were also less likely to be college graduates or have a history of coronary heart diseases(CHD)," the study highlighted.
It added further that women with later age at menopause were more likely to be married or living as married, be college graduates, report higher levels of physical activity and have a history of past oral contraceptives (OC) use.
"Average age at death was 83.7 years, and the most common causes of death were cerebrovascular disease, and cancer. At baseline, women who lived to 90 years were more likely to report higher levels of physical activity and be older, college graduates, current drinkers, and in excellent or very good health," according to the research.
