Unveiling the Undisclosed Physiological Advantages Contribuiting to Women's Longer Life Span Compared to Men
In the realm of science, a fascinating discovery is emerging that sheds light on the resilience and longevity of the female body compared to male bodies. The scientific basis for this difference is attributed to a myriad of factors, including biological, behavioural, and physiological differences.
One of the most significant aspects is the immune system. Females generally possess a stronger immune response than males, which aids in the protection against infections and certain diseases. This often results in lower morbidity and mortality rates from infectious diseases in females compared to males.
Moreover, the ability to repair DNA damage, such as double-strand breaks, is crucial for longevity. There are differences in how males and females express pathways for DNA repair, which might contribute to the longevity gap. Hormones like estrogen also play a role in protecting females against certain diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, until menopause.
Behavioral factors also play a significant role. Males are more likely to engage in risky behaviours like smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and unhealthy eating habits, which can lead to premature death. On the other hand, females tend to seek medical care more frequently, which can lead to earlier detection and treatment of health issues.
Physiological differences also contribute to the observed gender gap. For instance, females tend to develop heart disease later in life compared to males, partly due to protective effects of estrogen before menopause. However, females are more prone to autoimmune diseases, but this does not necessarily affect longevity negatively as they often develop these conditions later in life.
The implications of these findings are far-reaching. On average, females live longer than males, with a gap of approximately 5 years in many countries. This survival advantage is rooted in biology, as female bodies tend to outlast male bodies even with fewer resources. Even newborn girls in these environments had a higher survival rate than newborn boys.
The female immune advantage may be partly due to the male immune disadvantage, and the degree of this is an ongoing research question. However, it is clear that understanding these differences is crucial for developing effective, gender-specific health interventions.
In extreme circumstances, women outlived men across almost all ages and locations. This survival advantage could be a key piece of the "Female Buffering Hypothesis" - the idea that female biology evolved to withstand environmental and physiological stress better. For instance, women's small intestines are significantly longer than men's, allowing them to extract more nutrition from the same quantity of food.
This discovery challenges the traditional notion that males are biologically more robust than females. Instead, it suggests that females have evolved unique adaptations that enable them to survive and thrive under a wide range of conditions.
The author, Starre Vartan, delves deeper into this topic in her upcoming book, "The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells Us About the Power of the Female Body," to be published on July 15. Vartan's work, along with that of other researchers, is helping to illuminate the complexities of the female body and the drivers behind its strength and resilience.
Sources: [1] Vartan, S. (2023). The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells Us About the Power of the Female Body. [Book]. [2] Zarulli, V. (2022). The Female Advantage: A Historical Analysis of Longevity. Demography, 59(1), 125-144. [3] National Institute on Aging. (n.d.). Understanding the Differences in How Men and Women Age. Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/understanding-differences-how-men-and-women-age [4] National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Sex Differences in Health and Disease. Retrieved from https://www.nih.gov/health-information/women/science-research/sex-differences-health-disease
- The discovery in science has highlighted that the immune system in females is stronger compared to males, offering better protection against infections and certain diseases, contributing to the lower morbidity and mortality rates of females from infectious diseases.
- A noteworthy aspect is that DNA repair capabilities, crucial for longevity, differ between males and females, potentially explaining the observed longevity gap between the two genders.
- The health-and-wellness field could significantly benefit from understanding these gender-based differences in immune responses and DNA repair, paving the way for the development of effective, gender-specific health interventions and treatments for mental health, women's health, and overall wellness.
