[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Sign-in] [Mail] [Setup] [Help]
Status: Not Logged In; Sign In
Science/Tech See other Science/Tech Articles Title: Why are 95% of people who live to 110 women? You're as old as your stem cells ScienceDaily... Human supercentenarians share at least one thing in common--over 95 percent are women. Scientists have long observed differences between the sexes when it comes to aging, but there is no clear explanation for why females live longer. In a discussion of what we know about stem cell behavior and sex, Stanford University researchers Ben Dulken and Anne Brunet argue that it's time to look at differences in regenerative decline between men and women. This line of research could open up new explanations for how the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone, or other factors, modify lifespan. It's known that estrogen has direct effects on stem cell populations in female mice, from increasing the number of blood stem cells (which is very helpful during pregnancy) to enhancing the regenerative capacity of brain stem cells at the height of estrus. Whether these changes have a direct impact on lifespan is what's yet to be explored. Recent studies have already found that estrogen supplements increase the lifespan of male mice, and that human eunuchs live about 14 years longer than non-castrated males. More work is also needed to understand how genetics impacts stem cell aging between the sexes. Scientists have seen that knocking out different genes in mice can add longevity benefits to one sex but not the other, and that males in twin studies have shorter telomeres--a sign of shorter cellular lifespan--compared to females. "It is likely that sex plays a role in defining both lifespan and healthspan, and the effects of sex may not be identical for these two variables," the authors write. "As the search continues for ways to ameliorate the aging process and maintain the regenerative capacity of stem cells, let us not forget one of the most effective aging modifiers: sex." Story Source: The above story is based on materials provided by Cell Press. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference: Ben Dulken, Anne Brunet. Stem Cell Aging and Sex: Are We Missing Something? Cell Stem Cell, 2015; 16 (6): 588 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2015.05.006 Cite This Page: MLA APA Chicago Cell Press. "Why are 95% of people who live to 110 women? You're as old as your stem cells." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 June 2015. http://. Share This Page: RELATED TOPICS Health & Medicine Stem Cells Healthy Aging Prostate Cancer Gynecology Skin Cancer Menopause RELATED TERMS Estrogen Testosterone Fertility Sex linkage Hormone replacement therapy Embryonic stem cell Related Stories Women's Immune Systems Remain Younger for Longer May 14, 2013 Womens immune systems age more slowly than men's, new research suggests. The slower decline in a womans immune system may contribute to women living longer than ... read more Impact of Autism May Be Different in Men and Women Oct. 17, 2012 Men and women with autism spectrum conditions may show subtle but significant differences in the cognitive functions impacted by the condition, according to new ... read more Why Does Alzheimer's Disease Affect Twice as Many Women as Men? Sep. 5, 2012 A group of experts has developed consensus recommendations for future research directions to determine why nearly two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are ... read more Genetic Markers for Testosterone, Estrogen Level Regulation Identified July 20, 2012 Scientists have identified genetic markers that influence a protein involved in regulating estrogen and testosterone levels in the ... Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top Page Up Full Thread Page Down Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Tatarewicz (#0)
Men lead more dangerous lives--fishermen, soldiers, farmers, etc. I have read that men over the age of 100 tend to be healthier than women, maybe because their immune system is less complicated.
|
||
[Home]
[Headlines]
[Latest Articles]
[Latest Comments]
[Post]
[Sign-in]
[Mail]
[Setup]
[Help]
|