 |
| Based on my direct line of ancestors |
In doing my research, I have found that many ancestors have lived to a ripe old age, well beyond average, so these results surprised me. At a recent family reunion on my mothers side, we had four relatives attend who were over age 90, which didn't include my grandmother, who lived until she was age 96. It is the several ancestors who have died of heart attacks in their 50s, which brings the average down. When I took out the male and female who were the youngest when they died, the life expectancy only came up a few years, to age 80.
I feel that I take after my mothers side of the family, where the life expectancy for a female is age 85 compared to age 81 on my fathers side of the family (excluding the youngest to die).
The pie chart below shows the causes of death for my direct line of ancestors.
 |
| Click on the image to enlarge |
So how does this compare to averages? Lung & Respiratory issues and Heart issues meet Australian averages but Cancer and Stroke are below Australian averages. Although several family members have had a stroke, it has not been a major cause of death in the direct family. Two of my uncles died of cancer but surprisingly it has not been a significant cause of death among my direct line of ancestors.
The graph below is from information obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2010 figures).
 |
| Click to enlarge |
 |
| 10% of my direct line ancestors have lived past age 90 |
After all this talk about death, it is time for me to get off the couch and go for a walk, to reduce the chance of having heart or respiratory problems!
 |
| Click on the picture for more "L" posts |
Fascinating! How did you do this? Do you have a genealogy program that figures life expectancy?
ReplyDeleteLol. It wasn't that easy. You may laugh but I just love statistics. No I went through ancestors one by one and made up Excel spreadsheets and graphs.
DeleteWell darn!
DeleteWow, that is pretty amazing and a lot of work! I would like to know that as well but I'm way to lazy to do that much work! LOL! Great post!
ReplyDeleteLol. It's not that hard if you have all the information recorded in a program. If you want to send me the info then I am happy to put into spreadsheets and graphs for you.
DeleteA very original and impressive piece of research, that I haven't come across before on Geneabloggers. If you love dealing with statistics, I can see its appeal. I did have a family tree programme at one stage which did do an analysis on average age of deaths in the family etc.
ReplyDeleteI kept from 2000 a press cutting on the differences in life between 2000 and 1900 when life expectancy for women was only 50 (and I am way past that!) - though infant mortaity and death in childbirth was largely repsonsbile for this figure. I like to think I take after my motehr's family with my 4 times great grandparents both over 80- when they died in the early 1820's.
Aged over 80 in the 1820s is extremely good! With those genes you may make it to 100!
DeleteNice graphs. I'm a big fan of representing data graphically. I love what you've done with your stats ;)
ReplyDeleteI got the idea from you Fi. In one of your posts, you did a graph on year of ancestors arrivals, which gave me the idea of using graphs to summarise research :)
DeleteWow, now that is a mighty impressive post, so easy to read, so nice to look at, and so well researched ... a big +1, or thumbs up from me. And here's hoping you take after your mother's side of the family. Longer to live and enjoy life.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I appreciate your comments.
DeleteAnd more time for research :)
Wow! Very interesting post. It must have been quite a bit of work too. My genealogy program, Reunion, gives that information. I just checked and I have 21 years left, which takes me to 87. That part of the program also gives my age at events that have occurred during my lifetime - birth of siblings and children. Deaths of grandparents and parents.
ReplyDeleteWhat program do you use Kristin? A program would definitely saved me some time :)
DeleteI use "Reunion". It's a Mac program.
DeleteThat is SO fascinating Sharon... Brilliant! Interesting that cancer is so rare in your family, compared with Australian 2010 Stats. Thanks for sharing, Catherine
ReplyDeleteThanks Catherine. It is rare isn't it. I am hopeful that it stays that way!
DeleteThis is such an interesting post Sharon. I keep working on the theory that my family's life expectancy of 80+ will work for me...fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteMy program does give me some of this data and I like fiddling with the stats too so may have a play with the numbers...but first I have to write some posts. Thanks!
Fingers crossed :)
DeleteThe idea's spreading! Here's some more people who decided to make "cause of death" charts:
ReplyDeleteMegan Smolenyak: http://megansmolenyak.posthaven.com/cause-of-death-pedigree
Randy Seaver: http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/10/my-cause-of-death-pedigree-chart.html
Nathan Murphy: https://familysearch.org/blog/en/death-chart/
Judy Russell: http://www.legalgenealogist.com/blog/2013/10/31/halloweens-toll/
Happy Halloween from the United States!
The idea is spreading! Here are some more "cause of death" charts that people have put up:
ReplyDeleteMegan Smolenyak: http://megansmolenyak.posthaven.com/cause-of-death-pedigree
Randy Seaver: http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/10/my-cause-of-death-pedigree-chart.html
Nathan Murphy: https://familysearch.org/blog/en/death-chart/
Judy Russell: http://www.legalgenealogist.com/blog/2013/10/31/halloweens-toll/
Happy Halloween from the States!