Measuring senescence in human populations

Abstract

In this thesis, senescence is measured in human populations according to its definition of an increase in the risks of dysfunction, disease, and death with chronological age. Part I of this thesis investigates how a population__s senescence rate can be measured through the increase in mortality rate with age. Part II of this thesis investigates how senescence can be measured through the increase in morbidity - with a focus on cardiovascular disease - in a non-western population and thus be compared with the senescence process in western populations.