Is the decreased longevity among left-handers related to an increase in heart disease?
Many studies report that left-handers have a shorter longevity than right-handers, and the present study may provide a possible explanation for that finding. In a Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit for the elderly with a mean age of 75.2 years the prevalence of left-handers was 16.7%. This latter value was significantly different (p = 0.0028) from the 6.7% in controls of similar age. These data suggest that heart disease may be one reason for a reduced longevity among left-handers. Left-handers use the right hemisphere for movement, and unilateral activation of that hemisphere in the form of EEG desynchronization and deactivation in the form of EEG slow waves are both related to cardiac abnormalities.
Hughes
John R
JR
Department of Neurology, University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. jhughes@uic.edu
Dorner
Elizabeth
E
Wind
Michele
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003344:Cortical Synchronization; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence