Scientists have uncovered new clues that may explain why men generally don’t live as long as women.
Research suggests it is linked to loss of the Y chromosome, which can damage the heart muscle and lead to fatal heart failure.
An estimated 40% of children over the age of 70 suffer from loss of this male sex chromosome, but they may benefit from an existing drug that targets dangerous tissue scarring.
Chromosomes are bundles of DNA in each cell that come in pairs. Females have two X chromosomes while males have one X and one Y chromosome.
Professor Kenneth Walsh from the University of Virginia said: “Especially at age 60, men tend to die more rapidly than women. It seems that they age more rapidly biologically.”
He added: “This new research provides clues as to why men age less than women.”
University of Virginia (UVA) researcher Kenneth Walsh said pirfenidone may help counteract the harmful effects of chromosome loss.
Many men begin to lose their Y chromosome in a fraction of the cells with age – something that seems to be especially true for smokers.
Scientists previously found that men who have the loss of the Y chromosome are more likely to die at a younger age and suffer from age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s.
The new research is believed to be the first hard evidence that chromosome loss directly has harmful effects on men’s health.
Researchers used gene-editing techniques to develop a specialized mouse model to better understand the effects of Y chromosome loss in the blood.
They found that the damage accelerated age-related diseases and made the mice prone to scarring on the heart and earlier death.
The researchers also looked at the effects of Y chromosome loss in human males, conducting three analyzes of data compiled from the UK Biobank study. They found that loss of the Y chromosome was associated with heart disease and heart failure.
The researchers found that as the loss of chromosomes increased, so did the risk of death.
They said their findings suggest that targeting the effects of Y chromosome loss could help men live longer, healthier lives.
The findings have been published in the journal Science.