Sex differences in biological aging with a focus on human studies
Aging is a complex biological process characterized by hallmark features accumulating over the life course, shaping the individual's aging trajectory and subsequent disease risks. There is substantial individual variability in the aging process between men and women. In general, women live long...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
2021-05-01
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| Series: | eLife |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://elifesciences.org/articles/63425 |
| _version_ | 1818017988035477504 |
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| author | Sara Hägg Juulia Jylhävä |
| author_facet | Sara Hägg Juulia Jylhävä |
| author_sort | Sara Hägg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aging is a complex biological process characterized by hallmark features accumulating over the life course, shaping the individual's aging trajectory and subsequent disease risks. There is substantial individual variability in the aging process between men and women. In general, women live longer than men, consistent with lower biological ages as assessed by molecular biomarkers, but there is a paradox. Women are frailer and have worse health at the end of life, while men still perform better in physical function examinations. Moreover, many age-related diseases show sex-specific patterns. In this review, we aim to summarize the current knowledge on sexual dimorphism in human studies, with support from animal research, on biological aging and illnesses. We also attempt to place it in the context of the theories of aging, as well as discuss the explanations for the sex differences, for example, the sex-chromosome linked mechanisms and hormonally driven differences. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:32:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6edce1f651cc493abdd7c24520e40a3b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-084X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T07:32:59Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | eLife Sciences Publications Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | eLife |
| spelling | doaj.art-6edce1f651cc493abdd7c24520e40a3b2022-12-22T02:05:46ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2021-05-011010.7554/eLife.63425Sex differences in biological aging with a focus on human studiesSara Hägg0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2452-1500Juulia Jylhävä1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0250-4491Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SwedenAging is a complex biological process characterized by hallmark features accumulating over the life course, shaping the individual's aging trajectory and subsequent disease risks. There is substantial individual variability in the aging process between men and women. In general, women live longer than men, consistent with lower biological ages as assessed by molecular biomarkers, but there is a paradox. Women are frailer and have worse health at the end of life, while men still perform better in physical function examinations. Moreover, many age-related diseases show sex-specific patterns. In this review, we aim to summarize the current knowledge on sexual dimorphism in human studies, with support from animal research, on biological aging and illnesses. We also attempt to place it in the context of the theories of aging, as well as discuss the explanations for the sex differences, for example, the sex-chromosome linked mechanisms and hormonally driven differences.https://elifesciences.org/articles/63425biological agingsexual dimorphismtheories of agingage-related diseases |
| spellingShingle | Sara Hägg Juulia Jylhävä Sex differences in biological aging with a focus on human studies eLife biological aging sexual dimorphism theories of aging age-related diseases |
| title | Sex differences in biological aging with a focus on human studies |
| title_full | Sex differences in biological aging with a focus on human studies |
| title_fullStr | Sex differences in biological aging with a focus on human studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sex differences in biological aging with a focus on human studies |
| title_short | Sex differences in biological aging with a focus on human studies |
| title_sort | sex differences in biological aging with a focus on human studies |
| topic | biological aging sexual dimorphism theories of aging age-related diseases |
| url | https://elifesciences.org/articles/63425 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarahagg sexdifferencesinbiologicalagingwithafocusonhumanstudies AT juuliajylhava sexdifferencesinbiologicalagingwithafocusonhumanstudies |