The arc of life : evolution and health across the life course

Given the rapidly developing area of evolutionary medicine and public health, The Arc of Life examines ways in which research conducted by biological anthropologists can enrich our understanding of variation in human health outcomes. The book aims not only to showcase the perspective that biological anthropologists bring to the burgeoning field of evolutionary medicine, but to underscore the context of human life history -- especially the concept of evolutionary trade-offs and the ensuing biological processes that can affect health status over the life course. This dual emphasis on life history theory and life cycle biology will make for a valuable and unique, yet complementary, addition to books already available on the subject of evolution and health. The book consolidates diverse lines of research within the field of biological anthropology, stimulates new directions for future research, and facilitates communication between subdisciplines of human biology operating at the forefront of evolutionary medicine.​ "This book examines ways in which research conducted by biological anthropologists can enrich our understanding of variation in human health outcomes. The book aims not only to showcase the perspective that biological anthropologists bring to the burgeoning field of evolutionary medicine, but to underscore the context of human life history -- especially the concept of evolutionary trade-offs and the ensuing biological processes that can affect health status over the life course. This dual emphasis on life history theory and life cycle biology will make for a valuable and unique, yet complementary, addition to books already available on the subject of evolution and health. The book consolidates diverse lines of research within the field of biological anthropology, stimulates new directions for future research, and facilitates communication between subdisciplines of human biology operating at the forefront of evolutionary medicine."--Prové de l'editor Front Matter....Pages i-viii Introduction: Evolutionary Medicine and Life History Theory....Pages 1-6 Intergenerational Memories of Past Nutritional Deprivation: The Phenotypic Inertia Model....Pages 7-20 Modeling Developmental Plasticity in Human Growth: Buffering the Past or Predicting the Future?....Pages 21-39 Development of Human Sociosexual Behavior....Pages 41-53 Evolutionary Perspectives on Teen Motherhood: How Young Is Too Young?....Pages 55-75 Health, Evolution, and Reproductive Strategies in Men: New Hypotheses and Directions....Pages 77-97 Immunity, Hormones, and Life History Trade-Offs....Pages 99-120 Thyroid Disorders at Midlife: An Evolutionary Perspective....Pages 121-138 Women’s Health in the Post-menopausal Age....Pages 139-157 Costs of Reproduction, Health, and Life Span in Women....Pages 159-176 From Novel to Extreme: Contemporary Environments and Physiologic Dysfunction....Pages 177-193 Back Matter....Pages 195-199