A Look at Hormones, Bodily Changes, and Life Expectancy
Females, overall, live longer than males.
But who ages faster?
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Beyond Male and Female
Sex and gender exist on spectrums.
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Experts have different theories for this.
Statistically, that explains some, but not all, of the differences.
That means their medical problems may be diagnosed earlier, giving them a better chance of recovering.
If this theory is accurate, seeing their healthcare providers more often may help males live longer.
Cancer Screenings
Regardless of your biological sex, you needscreening for cancers that affect your reproductive organs.
Thetool at Healthfinder.govshows which tests are recommended for you.
Appearance
It’s a stereotype that men age “better” than women.
However, there is some science behind this.
It has to do withcollagen, a protein found in skin and connective tissues.
It’s what makes your skin elastic, which is associated with how young you look.
The human body loses collagen as it ages, which is why skin takes on a different appearance.
Males lose collagen earlier and more consistently throughout life.
Females tend to keep more until menopause, when they lose it at a dramatic rate.
Sex Hormones
Sex hormones affect how you age.
Sex hormones decline in people of any sex as they get older.
Androgens
Male hormones are called androgens.
The primary androgentestosteronehelps regulate muscle mass, bone mass, and overall physical function.
As it drops off, you naturally become weaker and less able to perform physical feats.
In females, androgens play a role in the production of estrogens, which are the primary female hormones.
So declining androgen levels lead to declining estrogen levels.
Estrogens
For most of their lives, females have about four times more estrogens than males.
In males, that happens gradually.
Meanwhile, during the first year of menopause, females lose about 80% of their estrogen production.
Once again, males steadily experience the effects of advancing age while post-menopausal females take a dramatic step.
The common belief that male sexuality peaks at 18 and female sexuality peaks much later is true.
Male testosterone levels are highest at 18 and then steadily drop for the next several decades.
For females, sexual desire increases just before estrogen levels (and fertility) begin to drop.
Brain Aging
Brain aging is also different for males and females.
Everyone’s brain shrinks with age, and the brain’s metabolism slows down, as well.
In both cases, changes appear to happen faster to the male brain.
Cognitive impairment appears to have different causal factors for males and females, as well.
They include:
Of those, genetics is the only one it’s possible for you to’t change.
Centenarians and Aging
People who live to the age of 100 or beyond are called centenarians.
Studies suggest females are more likely than males to live that long.
In appearance and sexual function, males tend to have slow, gradual declines.
Females tend to have rapid declines after menopause.
Many factors influence how you age.
Some of them are out of your control, such as genetics and declining hormone levels.
Othersincluding nutrition, lifestyle, and environmentyou may be able to change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Males tend to hold on to a more youthful appearance longer than females.
This is because they lose collagena protein in skin that keeps it hydrated and elasticmore gradually.
In the United States, females live around five years longer than males.
Researchers believe behavior and hormones play a role in lifespan differences.
For example, males are statistically more likely than females to smoke and engage in other risky behaviors.
In addition, higher estrogen levels may help females combat heart disease and higher cholesterol levels.
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Population Reference Bureau.Around the globe, women outlive men.
2012;67(11):1140-1152. doi:10.1093/gerona/gls068
