When it comes to longevity, women are much more likely to live longer than men. In the US, the gap widened to 5.8 years in 2021. On average, men can expect to live just under 76 years, compared to 81 years for women.
A new study by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, shows that this difference applies to different species. And the findings, published in the journal Science Advances, suggest there may be ways for human males to reduce this gap.
The study found that, among 528 mammal species—including humans’ closest relative, the chimpanzee—females usually have the advantage. Females live about 13% longer in 72% of the species.
A combination of factors explains the difference, including genetics, mating habits—which tend to produce risky behaviors among males—and caregiving responsibilities.
“What we discovered is that this female advantage in longevity is part of mammalian evolution. It dates back millions of years,” says the study’s author, Fernando Colchero. Females have two X chromosomes, compared to one X and one Y in males, which may provide a “backup” protective reserve against potentially harmful genetic mutations. But the differences go far beyond that.
Colchero points to the behaviors and physical changes that males of many species adopt to mate and reproduce. For example, male deer are larger and develop antlers during breeding season to signal dominance and fight rivals in an effort to attract females. “This is an evolutionary pressure, certainly, to pass on as many genes as possible to the next generation,” says Colchero. Risky behaviors shorten life. Although these behaviors may seem distant from human reality, there are some parallels. Men tend to engage in risky behaviors at higher rates, including smoking and drinking. Although the differences have narrowed, they remain significant.
“Men are also more likely to die from alcoholism, drug use, suicide, and homicide than women,” says Alan Geller, senior professor of social and behavioral sciences at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Geller studies disparities in deaths from heart disease and cancer between men and women. Since men are more likely to smoke tobacco, they die at higher rates from lung cancer. Smoking also increases the risk of heart disease. It’s a clear example of how risky behaviors can shorten life expectancy. There are some factors that men cannot control. For example, estrogen has a protective effect on the heart.
Men also die at significantly higher rates from melanoma. “It’s fascinating because the melanoma incidence rate is slightly higher in men than in women, but the melanoma mortality rate is much higher for men,” says Geller. There are several reasons for this, including biology. Men’s skin is different, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. It tends to be thicker and contains more collagen and elastin, fibers that give skin firmness. Research shows that these differences can make the skin more vulnerable to sun’s ultraviolet ray damage.
But it’s much more than biology that puts men at greater risk of death. Men are less likely to protect themselves from the sun. A 2022 survey published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found that only 12.3% of men always use sunscreen when spending more than an hour outdoors on a sunny day.
In addition, men are less likely to get preventive cancer screenings. “They’re less likely to go to the doctor to request a skin cancer screening or to examine their own skin,” says Geller. “And so there’s a double problem,” increasing their risks.
Caregivers Live Longer
The Max Planck study found a correlation between caregiving and longevity. The sex that spends more time caring for offspring tends to live longer. An evolutionary explanation is that the caregiver parent needs to survive until their children are independent.
Colchero says the evolutionary pressures that produced this gender disparity cannot be ignored. But in humans, he hopes this disparity can be reduced. “There are ways to reduce it to some extent,” he says, by changing behaviors and norms. Gender roles have evolved and many men care for children and focus on their own health. For example, men who earn more are more likely to use sunscreen.
“Imitating some of women’s behaviors” could be helpful, he says. “Let’s make sure we go to the doctor,” for example. And Geller says much more could be done to promote the importance of preventive care, including recommended screenings.
And remember: the leading risk factors for the chronic diseases that kill the most Americans, including cancer and heart disease, can be reduced by changing our habits, for both men and women. Here are the 8 essential keys to life from the American Heart Association to prevent disease: eat better, be more active, quit smoking, get healthy sleep, control weight, cholesterol and blood sugar, and blood pressure.
Source: npr.org by Allison Aubrey