Why Women Live Longer and What it Means for You

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Researchers have identified a clear trend in history, cultures and the globe: women live longer than men. But why?

According to a large -scale assessment by Dr. Steven Austad and Dr. Kathleen Fischer from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, the exact reason is still a mystery. But scientists theoretizing that a mix of biological, genetic, evolutionary and behavioral factors can all play a role.

Who lives longer, men or women?

Dr. Austad and Dr. Fischer investigated the database of human death, which follows the lifespan trends in 38 countries in 1751. They discovered that in every registered year and location the life expectancy of women at birth surpasses at birth.

This advantage also takes place in all phases of life, and becomes even more striking in extremely old age. Data from the Gerontology Research Group, a non-profit scientific research organization, show that 90% of the supercentarians that are the age of 110 or also reached women.

An intriguing example of the female long -lived benefit comes from Iceland, where the population brought in between the mid -19th century and early 1900s with:

Famine
Volcanic outbursts
Outbreaks of several diseases

Despite these hardships, women consistently survived men – even in the toughest conditions.

And this pattern still applies today. In the US, women have lower death rates for 13 of the 15 most important causes of death, with two exceptions where they have higher rates:

Heart attack
Alzheimer’s disease

According to Dr. Austad: “We don’t know why women live longer. It is amazing that it has not become a stronger focus of research in human biology. ”

Why do women live longer than men?

Here are some possible explanations:

Biological factors

X -chromosomes: Women have two x -chromosomes and offer a genetic “safety net” if one develops a harmful mutation. Men, who only have one x chromosome, do not have this back -up, making them possible more vulnerable to certain genetic diseases.
Mitochondria: Mitochondria, the energy generators of the cell, are usually only passed on by mothers. Because they evolved to function best in women, some scientists say that this can give women a cellular advantage during the aging process.
Estrogen versus testosterone: estrogen has anti-inflammatory and heart protective effects, reducing the risk of women on cardiovascular disease before they go into the menopause. Testosterone, on the other hand, can contribute to higher risk behavior and a weaker immune function, which can take into account the shorter life of men.
Stronger immune system: research suggests that women often have more robust immune system, which helps them to help infections and certain chronic diseases more effectively and more efficiently than men. This explains why, historically, men died at considerably higher percentages than women during pandemias.

Evolutionary perspectives

Risker behavior and survival considerations: Through history, men have done more dangerous activities, such as hunting, fighting in wars and long -distance exploration. These “riskier lifestyles” may have contributed to shorter lifespan for generations.
Parental investments: Historically, people and in many animal species women are the primary care providers – an evolutionary role that may have led to a greater lifespan.

But are women healthier Then men?

Although women live longer, they often experience more chronic diseases than men – especially in old age. Probably because their connective tissues respond more to hormones, women have a higher risks to develop:

Osteoporosis
Arthritis
Chronic pain

These disorders can lead to higher handicapper rates, which means that although women live longer, they often spend more years in poor health than men.

Scientists do not yet have a definitive answer, but it is likely that a mix of genetics, hormones and behavior contributes to the longer life of women. Dr. Austad and Dr. Fischer would like to continue to explore this mystery because they believe that exposing the reasons behind it can help us all lead a longer, healthier life.