Unveiling the secret physiological advantages that contribute to women's longer lifespans compared to men.
In dire circumstances, such as famines, epidemics, and enslavement, women have historically outlived men, a phenomenon that has been the subject of extensive research. A key study by Virginia Zarulli, an associate professor of demography at Italy's University of Padua, reveals that this trend is deeply rooted in biology.
The female survival advantage can be attributed to several biological and physiological factors that confer survival advantages to women. One of the most significant factors is the stronger immune defenses in females. Women tend to mount stronger immune responses, exhibiting better vaccine efficacy and a greater ability to fight off infections such as sepsis. This enhanced immune function helps females survive illnesses and stresses that might be more deadly to males.
Female bodies also benefit from hormonal protections. Estrogen, generally higher in female bodies, confers a variety of immune advantages. Moreover, the length of women's small intestines is significantly longer than men's, providing an advantage in extracting more nutrition from the same quantity of food.
Another crucial factor is the genetic and cellular mechanisms that underpin female resilience. Female cells often have more robust mechanisms for DNA repair and cellular maintenance. This is evident in newborn girls, who have been observed to have higher survival rates than boys in harsh environments, suggesting a genetic basis for female longevity.
Metabolic and stress response differences also play a role in female survival. Women’s bodies tend to respond differently to environmental stresses, often with better metabolic regulation and stress hormone management, which supports endurance in extreme conditions.
The downside of women's powerful immune system is that they are more prone to autoimmune diseases than men. However, this new knowledge will inform more targeted treatments for infection and immunity for all bodies.
In summary, the female survival advantage is rooted in stronger immune responses, hormonal protections, superior cellular repair, and metabolic adaptations, all of which combine to make women biologically more resilient under dire circumstances than men. This understanding challenges traditional medical research that has long ignored the complexities of the female body, but recent genomic and physiological studies are bringing these complexities into focus.
For those interested in living well and improving well-being, a weekly roundup is available through the company's Life, But Better newsletter. The author, Starre Vartan, is the author of the upcoming book "The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells Us About the Power of the Female Body."
1.In light of the superior immune responses, hormonal protections, and cellular repair mechanisms in women, understanding women's health is crucial in the realm of health and wellness, as it can lead to better disease treatments and overall well-being.2. Alongside physical health, mental health also stands to benefit from this knowledge, as women's biology exhibits unique resilience characteristics that can guide mental health therapies and supportive care.3. This newfound comprehension of women's health, encompassing areas like medical-conditions, fitness-and-exercise, and mental-health, will help bridge the gap in medical research that has overlooked the intricacies of the female body, ultimately improving women's health globally.
