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Sex differences in biological aging with a focus on human studies
1Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Elife
|May 13, 2021
Summary
Biological aging shows significant sex differences. While women generally live longer, they experience greater frailty, and many age-related diseases manifest differently between sexes.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Sex Differences
- Molecular and Cellular Biology of Aging
Background:
- Aging is a complex biological process with individual variability.
- Sex-specific differences exist in aging trajectories, health outcomes, and disease risks.
- Women generally exhibit longer lifespans but increased frailty and poorer end-of-life health compared to men.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on sexual dimorphism in human biological aging and age-related illnesses.
- To integrate findings from human and animal research.
- To explore potential explanations for observed sex differences in aging.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of human studies on biological aging and sex differences.
- Inclusion of supporting evidence from animal research.
- Analysis of sex-specific patterns in age-related diseases.
Main Results:
- Women generally have lower biological ages but experience greater frailty.
- Men tend to maintain better physical function later in life.
- Numerous age-related diseases exhibit distinct sex-specific patterns.
Conclusions:
- Sexual dimorphism significantly impacts biological aging and disease susceptibility.
- Explanations for sex differences may involve sex-chromosome linked mechanisms and hormonal influences.
- Understanding these differences is crucial for personalized aging research and healthcare.
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