How does the Gompertz function describe the rise in mortality with age?

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life span The mayfly (*Ephemera danica*) has a short life span, with adults living only one day.

The Gompertz function is a key actuarial tool used to describe the aging process by modeling the age-specific death rate.1

First proposed by English actuary Benjamin Gompertz in 1825, the function identifies that mortality rates increase in a geometric progression as an organism ages. This means that the risk of death rises by a constant ratio over successive, equal intervals of time.1

When these death rates are plotted on a logarithmic scale, the resulting relationship forms a straight line, which serves as a vital measure for understanding the progression of aging and the impact of various genetic or environmental modifiers. Notably, the prevalence of many age-related diseases and disabilities follows this same geometric pattern, reflecting the broader decline in biological function and adaptability that characterizes senescence.1