British Scientists

Sex Differences in Aging

Biogerontologist David Gems on different hypotheses of the gender gap in life expectancy, evolution of human longevity and reproductive patterns in men and women

David Gems Professor of Biogerontology, University College London

The sex difference in lifespan is likely to be linked to secondary sexual characteristics. It is linked to the traits that are controlled by sex hormones — something that is established in puberty. In males, one of the main determinants of secondary sexual characteristics is testicular hormones: testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. And there is a hypothesis that testosterone is what is driving the shorter lifespan in men.

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