The Paradox of Aging
One of the most intriguing findings in aging research is what scientists sometimes call the male-female health-survival paradox. Women generally live longer than men and often appear biologically younger according to a variety of molecular measures of aging. Yet, paradoxically, women tend to experience more disability, frailty, and chronic health challenges in their later years. Research has found that women often have lower biological ages when assessed using biomarkers such as epigenetic clocks, inflammation markers, and other measures of cellular aging. In simple terms, their bodies frequently show signs of aging more slowly than men's at the molecular level. This helps explain why women, on average, enjoy greater longevity. At the same time, however, many older women spend more years coping with limitations caused by osteoporosis, arthritis, mobility issues, and other chronic conditions. As a result, they are more likely to experience frailty and require assistance with daily...