While the study in this story involved a very specific cohort of people in Finland, do any of the findings ring true for your own life? Do you think having kids—or not—has affected how you've aged?

I think such studies are unscientific because we really do not know all the reasons behind the ageing process or which of these reasons pre-empt or nullify others. We can only consider it pop-science.

I have only two sons but, doing research and teaching at the EPFL, I have the feeling that, being in constant contact with young students kept me mentally young !

I had one child, and I believe that has resulted in my aging much slower than others I know who had more children. If you are interested in other advantages of having only one child, read Only An Only. I don't know what the effects would have been if I had not had any children, although I've heard that nursing even one child reduces the risk of breast cancer.

Such a niche article. I find the title misleading as it is really about separated twins, one of which I am not. Nor am I from Finland, nor do I have children (by choice).

I am very happy living by the sea with my beautiful dog who doesn't bark and cat who is always by my side.

Life is measured not by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

I have 6 kids. Birthing my 1st child at 17. 2 girls 4 boys, gramma of 18. married for 22 yrs having to take care of my mentally disabled husband 24/7 on my own for the last 5 yrs of our marriage until he passed away HOW IM STILL ALIVE TO TELL MY STORY IS BEYOND ME! I have been the MAIN pillard holding everyone in place and let me tell you... its soooo hard by the way im 57

It doesn't include those who've had no children, which includes me. I think that not having children has had a positive effect since I did not go through the stress (physical, emotional, financial) of raising children. I worked with children so did have access to enjoying them. It is an interesting question.

I am one of 13 siblings ages 74-51; parents born 1929, 1930. Father succumbed to bicycle car accident, mother weakened by stroke died in her 70s. 7 boys 6 girls 2 sets of twins bb, bg. Only 1 has passed away. I have 4 adult children. We all grew up in central Minnesota USA. Mother outlived father by 10 yrs. Mom was constantly busy, worked a bit to get out of the house. Very loving family. I don’t see a correlation between # of children and longevity, yet have and continue, in my family experience, to live with tremendous quality of life with my 4 kids and one of 13 - we all do. As we sign off regularly, “13XO”.

In my opinion, having children does aid in keeping us young. I have 5 children, doctors, lawyer, professor, and high school teacher. Life is busy and possibly more stressful at times. However we are constantly sharing their lives, including all of the beautiful or sad moments. It provides us more joy than sadness. Without such wonderful human bonds, we age much faster. If you can’t have children, I would advise volunteering, and helping others. We all need genuine human contact. I have a college friend that became a very important CEO of a large corporation. At a 40 year reunion, she commented, so sorry you didn’t keep your wonderful career, just think where you could have been now. Her comment wasn’t meant in a mean spirit, she actually meant it. My husband graduated conferred Cum Laude from Rice University, Houston,Tx, and started a Law Firm. She was happy about that, but ask, what did you do with your talent? I told her, I had the best job in the world. She looked stunned! All of her wealth, plastic surgery, prestige, 4 husbands ( divorced all) no children ( she didn’t want to be held back), had left her looking much older than me, and all she had left was her cat! You decide. Sincerely, Judith Rice

Grandparents are often used as childminders. The more grandchildren you have the more contact you have with these children. Children, in contact with lots of other children, pick up infections and carry them home. Parents and grandparents then become infected. It may be that they have an immunity to the infection and may not notice the disease. Each time someone is infected it damages cells in their body. Some damaged cells survive apoptosis and become senescent and the gradual accumulation of these senescent cells produces the effects of aging.

So - the more grandchildren you have, the more mild illnesses you pick up, the more senescent cells you accumulate, the 'older' you get.

My mother born in 1918 had 6 children and died at 94. My aunt had 8 children and lived to 93. Both had good medical care.

I had four children and am 95. So?

I am 100% Finnish, but I was born and live in the USA. I had one child, at age 27, and am now 72. I’m in fair health but have arthritis, which was inherited from my Finnish grandmother and my father. Otherwise, I’m in good health. My parents and both sets of grandparents all had 3 children. My grandparents had shorter lifespans, largely due to environmental causes. My father lived to 95. I think that in my case, the study bears out. Hard living in the first half of the 20th Century in the USA affected my family.