Sexual dimorphism in immunity and longevity among the oldest old
Nelli A Arakelyan1, Daria A Kupriyanova1, Jelena Vasilevska1
1Center for Genetics and Life Science, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia.
Frontiers in Immunology
|March 4, 2025
Summary
Women live longer than men due to sex-specific immune system differences and gut microbiome variations, particularly evident in centenarians. Understanding these sex differences in healthy aging is key to unlocking longevity secrets.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Geroscience
- Microbiome Research
Background:
- Human longevity exhibits significant sex bias, with women generally living longer and having better health outcomes than men.
- Sex chromosomes and sex-specific immune responses are implicated in the observed lifespan disparities and lower infection rates in females.
- Centenarians, individuals living to 100 years or more, represent a valuable population for studying healthy aging and its sex-specific characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on sexual dimorphism in the human immune system during aging.
- To explore the role of the gut microbiome in sex differences related to healthy aging and longevity.
- To focus on findings derived exclusively from human data, particularly in centenarian populations.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of studies investigating sex differences in aging.
- Analysis of immunological changes associated with healthy aging across sexes.
- Examination of gut microbiome composition and function in relation to sex and longevity.
- Exclusively included human-based research.
Main Results:
- Women exhibit distinct immunological profiles compared to men, influencing their health and lifespan.
- Sex-specific immune system adaptations contribute to lower infection susceptibility in females.
- Alterations in the gut microbiome are observed with aging and show sex-specific patterns, potentially impacting longevity.
Conclusions:
- Sexual dimorphism in the immune system and gut microbiome is a critical factor in human longevity.
- Understanding these sex-based differences in healthy aging can elucidate mechanisms underlying extended lifespan.
- Further research into sex-specific immune and microbiome interactions is crucial for advancing geroscience.
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