Women show signs of cellular ageing at 19 that hit men at age 40

New research shows that the cellular ageing of male and female bodies may differ substantially. A study by Michael Ben Ezra at the University of Copenhagen’s Center for Healthy Aging, which analysed 33 million biopsy reports taken from more than 4.9 million individuals, ranging from newborn babies to people who were over 100 years old between 1970 and 2018, revealed that women’s cells show the hallmark signs of ageing in early adulthood, whereas this tends to only occur in men from age 40. The timing and rate of cellular ageing can vary greatly depending on an individual’s sex, the study found.

The researchers used machine learning to analyse the vast amount of biopsy reports which ranged from papers detailing steroid receptor expression in breast carcinomas to age-related alterations. The goal of the research was to provide new insight into the process of ageing for the purposes of preventative medicine. The research could lead to more targeted interventions based on the timing of cell ageing in individuals, especially in female patients.

As the study revealed, the timing and rate of cellular ageing in men and women vary drastically. The team used the biomarker p16INK4a to determine the age at which cells ceased dividing and became senescent in individuals. Results suggest that despite having longer lifespans than men, women’s cells may demonstrate more rapid ageing. This is alarming as women tend to live longer than men, but may have to face the impacts of ageing sooner than their male counterparts. However, it is important to note that the study only analysed biopsies taken from certain tissues, therefore more comprehensive research may be required to determine whether cellular ageing varies throughout the whole body.

The researchers intend to continue the research and analyse more comprehensive data sets to better understand the ageing process. It is hoped that the research will help prevent age-related diseases in both men and women, as well as provide insights into how to treat and manage them more effectively. The findings could lead to more targeted interventions for certain age groups and populations – and possibly even targeted therapies based on sex – paving the way towards more efficient and successful ageing.



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