Declining masculine attributes over time potentially reducing lifespan duration
In the United States, women live, on average, five years longer than men, with the global average lifespan for women outlasting men by seven years. Scientists have long sought to understand the reasons behind this gender discrepancy, with a recent study from the University of Virginia School of Medicine (UVA) zeroing in on a potential cause: the loss of the Y chromosome in aging men.
The Y chromosome is shared with the more prominent X chromosome by most women, while men typically possess only one X and one Y. As men age, an estimated 40 percent may experience the loss of their Y chromosome in a fraction of their cells, mostly affecting rapid-turnover cells such as blood cells. This loss does not occur in male reproductive cells, meaning it is not passed onto offspring.
Researchers at UVA found that men who lose their Y chromosome were more likely to develop age-associated diseases like Alzheimer's disease and to die prematurely. The study's findings are believed to offer the first concrete evidence that the loss of the Y chromosome directly contributes to harmful effects on men's health.
The UVA research specifically explored the impact of Y chromosome loss on the heart. Using gene-editing technology and special mouse models, the team discovered that the loss accelerated age-related diseases, made the mice more prone to heart scarring, and led to earlier death. The scientists attributed these results not just to inflammation but to a complex series of immune system responses leading to fibrosis throughout the body, a process that may accelerate disease development.
The UVA researchers also investigated the effects of Y chromosome loss in human men by analyzing data from the UK Biobank, a massive biomedical database. Their findings suggested that Y chromosome loss was associated with cardiovascular disease and heart failure, with an increased risk of death as chromosome loss increased. These observations could potentially explain nearly four of the five-year difference in lifespan between U.S. women and men.
"The years of life lost due to the survival disadvantage of maleness is staggering," stated UVA researcher Dr. Kenneth Walsh. "This new research provides clues as to why men have shorter lifespans than women."
While science has yet to find a way to counteract Y chromosome loss, there may be methods to mitigate its effects on the body. Dr. Walsh believes that men who experience this loss could particularly benefit from the drug pirfenidone, which targets dangerous tissue scarring and could potentially help these men live longer, healthier lives. Pirfenidone is approved to treat a form of lung scarring and is being tested to treat heart failure and chronic kidney disease, two conditions in which tissue scarring occurs.
However, before administering any such therapies, healthcare professionals need to be able to identify men suffering from Y chromosome loss. At present, there is no easy way to diagnose this condition. One potential solution may come from an inexpensive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test developed by Dr. Walsh's collaborator, Lars Forsberg of Uppsala University in Sweden. While this test is still largely confined to the laboratories of Walsh and Forsberg, it could potentially become a routine diagnostic tool in the future.
If you smoke, quitting could help combat Y chromosome loss. Smokers were found to be especially likely to experience this loss as they age, compounding the health risks associated with tobacco use. By quitting smoking and adopting a healthy lifestyle, men can take steps to potentially live longer, healthier lives.*
Editor's note: Men, are you experiencing unexplained fatigue or other health issues? Your master hormone could be the culprit. Learn how to reset this critical controller of your bodily functions and improve your overall health by discovering The Insulin Factor: How to Repair Your Body's Master Controller and Conquer Chronic Disease!*
Sources:- Loss of Male Sex Chromosome With Age Leads to Earlier Death for Men - UVAHealth- Hematopoietic loss of Y chromosome leads to cardiac fibrosis and heart failure mortality - Science- Why men often die earlier than women - Harvard Health Publishing
- The study from the University of Virginia School of Medicine suggests that the loss of the Y chromosome in aging men could lead to a higher risk of developing age-associated diseases like Alzheimer's disease, and it might explain nearly four of the five-year difference in lifespan between U.S. women and men.
- Researchers at UVA found that men who lose their Y chromosome were more likely to develop heart-related diseases and to die prematurely, with the scientists attributing these results not just to inflammation but to a complex series of immune system responses leading to fibrosis throughout the body.
- While science has yet to find a way to counteract Y chromosome loss, adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as quitting smoking, could potentially help men live longer, healthier lives, with smokers being especially likely to experience this loss as they age, compounding the health risks associated with tobacco use.
