In the previous article, certain misconceptions about aging were discussed. This week, the big question is, do women age differently than men? The answer is yes. In many different ways. Why? Because they are anatomically different. They have a few hormones in higher or lower quantities, and these change as they age. Also in India, women are subjected to different sets of rules by their parents, siblings, friends, husband’s, their bosses as well as their children as they grow up. Despite these disadvantages, they are considered the stronger sex.
The key differences between the sexes are mentioned below.
Longer lifespan – The life expectancy at birth for women in India is about 3 years more than men. As per official estimate, in 2019, it was 70.2 years for women as compared to 67.4 years for men. This is, despite the fact that the infant mortality rate for females is 13% higher males. Interestingly, expectancy of life at birth was higher in males as compared to females since the independence of India, right till 1991. Thereafter, it changed in women’s favour. Why?
- Studies have found that girls survive illness better than boys. Women cope better with trauma than men. History indicates that women endure famines, epidemics and enslavement better than men.
- Geneticist state that the females have two copies of each gene stored in 2x chromosomes. Males having xy chromosomes have single copy of genes. The y chromosome is shorter than x chromosome hence it has lesser number of genes. A faulty gene in one x chromosome is compensated by a better gene in the 2nd x chromosome in females. Males lack that advantage. Hence, the females cope better at the genes level, in case of disease.
- More men as compared to women get addicted to consumption of excessive liquor, misusing tobacco or other drugs. Such habits are known to bring upon early aging, chronic diseases and early death.
- Occupations (mining, armed forces) and sports with high risk (car racing and other adventure sports) have a much higher percentage of men rather than women. Chances of death in young age are much more. Even the deaths due to accidents in men men is more in India, simply because more women stay at home than men. Lastly, the overall suicide rate is higher in men than women.
Hair loss – Nothing much to write about. I am bald myself and so was my father. Baldness is, by and large, a men’s issue. However, greying and hair loss may occur in older age group of both sexes.
Hormones affecting aging – Hormonal changes occur during menopause in women. Oestrogen decline occurs at a faster rate during and after menopause. Its protection from serious heart diseases begins to wane. The risk of Osteoporosis increases. The male hormone also begins to drop after reaching its peak at about 30 years. The decrease is, however at a much lower rate of about 1% per year. By about 70 years, only 30% of the peak level remains in most cases.
Diseases – Women related diseases like tumours in ovaries, uterus and breasts can occur as women age. But there are multiple diseases which occur exclusively in men as they age. Tumours of the prostrate can occur only in men as they age. Rarely breast cancer can occur in men too. Cirrhosis of liver due to excessive consumption of alcohol and Cancers of head and neck due to tobacco abuse can occur in both sexes but are more commonly seen in men. Similarly, arteriosclerotic heart disease is reported more in men than women. For COVID19, the initial data from many countries revealed that the death rate from this disease was around 2 times more in men as compared to women aged 60 years and over.
Cognitive impairment and Dementia. Simply speaking, the mental activities like thinking, reasoning and remembering are very slowly lost in some persons as they age. More women are affected than men, especially in India. However, Dementia is not considered a normal part of aging.
Single Seniors – Single seniors are an increasing population in India with complex social issues. Men die earlier, there are many more senior single women in India. Secondly, at time of marriage the men are usually older than women by 2-5 years. Hence there are many more senior widows than widowers. The senior single category also includes unmarried women and those separated from their spouses. Indian religions are replete with examples of treating older parent next to Gods. Even Parshuram acknowledged the act of Shravan Kumar who carried his old parents in baskets for their pilgrimage. But the reality, in today’s materialistic world is quite different. The single senior women are just abandoned in religious places in some societies. Some of those who do stay home are stripped off their financial assets and property rights by physical or emotional blackmail by their own children or other close relatives. They may be isolated, neglected or ignored by the family if they cannot work physically in the household.
In richer societies, they are generally well off but they are rarely consulted in decision making. All these issues are causes of depression and early setting in of dementia in senior single women. The senior single maybe marginally better off if they are financially independent or those who have a regular pension. Yet social deprivation may lead to depression in many senior men too. Dementia may creep in some, in their 70s, 80s or 90s if they are mentally inactive and not in regular communication with close friends and relatives.
In the above article, no attempt has been made to write about healthy aging in men or women. It would make the article unnecessarily longer and lose its focus. However, it is reiterated that the diseases which come up as people age are because of changes made by them in their behaviour or lifestyles. These changes maybe out of ignorance or maybe deliberate. In some conditions, it maybe the family or the society which is at fault. But definitely, they are not a part of ‘normal’ aging.
Futuristic Research – Geroscience deals with four chronic, lifestyle diseases related with aging, viz Cancer, Alzheimers, Diabetes and Heart diseases. US President Joe Biden has promised treatment for curing Cancers and Alzheimers during his tenure. Research funding in this direction is likely to be tripled. I end this article with a positive note for all the seniors that if they take adequate precautions and survive this pandemic, their dream of a healthier and longer life span may come true because of the newer medicines we are likely to receive.
Maj Gen Krishan Chauhan is a second-generation army officer. He studied in Sainik School Kapurthala, graduated from IG Medical College, Shimla and did his MD from AFMC/Pune University. He has served in the Army Medical Corps for 36 years and retired as the Addl DGMS army. He is an avid marathon runner and a writer. He first wrote articles for children in The Young Chronicles. Later, he started writing his own blog as Genkris, on WordPress where over 25 articles on various subjects can be accessed.
