Men tend to die younger than women, especially beyond the age of 60. New data discovered by scientists may help shed light on why men are often outlived by women.
According to research, this is related to the loss of Y chromosome, which can result in heart muscle scarring and fatal heart failure. The loss of this male sex chromosome affects 40% of people over the age of 70.
Each cell has a pair of chromosomes, which are DNA bundles. Men have an X and a Y chromosome, while women have two X chromosomes.
Kenneth Walsh, a professor at the University of Virginia, stated: "Men tend to pass away sooner than women, especially beyond the age of 60. It appears as though they age biologically more quickly. "
According to Professor Walsh, as men age, many start to lose their Y chromosome in a fraction of cells. According to the research, men who lose their Y chromosome are more likely to die young and get aging-related diseases like Alzheimer's.
The recent study is thought to be the first concrete proof that chromosomal deletion directly has a negative impact on men's health.
To better understand the effects of Y chromosome loss in the blood, researchers created a novel mouse model using gene-editing technologies.
They discovered that the loss sped up age-related illnesses, increased the mice's susceptibility to cardiac scarring, and hastened their demise.
The implications of Y chromosome loss in human men were also examined by the researchers, who ran three analyses on the information gathered from the UK Biobank study. They discovered that heart failure and cardiovascular disease were linked to Y chromosome deletion.
The researchers discovered that as chromosomal loss increased, so did the probability of mortality. They said that their research indicates that males may live longer, healthier lives if the impacts of Y chromosome depletion are targeted.
The researchers stated that pirfenidone may help mitigate the negative impacts of the chromosomal deletion.
Other factors
Lifestyle has also been linked in many impoverished countries to men dying earlier than women. Taking smoking and heavy drinking as examples,
In addition, men in most countries are hesitant to seek medical care. Men rarely undergo routine medical checkups and only go to the doctor when they are very ill or when their ailments have advanced. Most healthy conditions can be treated if discovered early.
Due to cultural traditions and socially constructed roles, men and women may also have different life expectancies. For instance, in most societies, men are expected to support their families, and in poor countries, they frequently take up risky jobs that endanger their health.