The longevity gender gap: are telomeres the explanation?
In this Perspective, we focus on the greater longevity of women as compared with men. We propose that, like aging itself, the longevity gender gap is exceedingly complex and argue that it may arise from sex-related hormonal differences and from somatic cell selection that favors cells more resistant to the ravages of time. We discuss the interplay of these factors with telomere biology and oxidative stress and suggest that an explanation for the longevity gender gap may arise from a better understanding of the differences in telomere dynamics between men and women.
Aviv
Abraham
A
Hypertension Research Center, the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, NJ Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. avivab@umdnj.edu
Shay
Jerry
J
Christensen
Karre
K
Wright
Woodring
W
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D002470:Cell Survival; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012737:Sex Factors; D016615:Telomere
D004967:Estrogens