We all must have come across the phase: this is why women live longer than men. These are all over the social media, where men are performing more often than not, some experiments, without gears, just for fun, "in the name of science". The caption reads: this is why women live longer. However, is there really a science to it, other than the fact that women choose to do things more safely?

In the United States, women have a life expectancy of about 80, whereas men have 75. Women outlive men and this holds true regardless of the country women live, the money they make, and other factors. In fact, it is true for most other mammals too.

Dr Dena Dubal, a professor of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco told the New York Times, "It is a very robust phenomenon all over the world, totally conserved in sickness, during famines, during epidemics, even during the times of starvation."

But what are the reasons? These reasons are often more complicated and less established. It is important to note that only because women are outliving men does not mean they are living a better life. In fact, women tend to have shorter health spans, which means the number of healthy years in a person's life is less in women than men, confirmed Bérénice Benayoun, an associate professor at the U.S.C. Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.

As per a 2021 study titled, Sex differences in frailty: Comparisons between humans and preclinical models, found that women are more physically grail than men in old age. They are also more vulnerable, especially after menopause and are at more risk of developing cardiovascular issues and Alzheimer's disease because of age.

The key is in figuring out what makes one sex more resilient or vulnerable.

Genetics

For things which do not find easy explanations, scientists look for their answers in genes. Many research, including a 2020 study titled, The sex with the reduced sex chromosome dies earlier: a comparison across the tree of life, suggests that the XX set of female sex chromosomes may impact longevity. However, there has not been any clarity on how it affects longevity.

Another 2018 study titled, Female XX sex chromosomes increase survival and extend lifespan in aging mice, which was conducted by Dr Dubal's lab, looked at genetically manipulated mice with different combinations of sex chromosomes and reproductive organs. It was found that those with two X chromosomes and ovaries lived longest, followed by mice with two X chromosomes and testes. Mice with XY chromosomes had shorter life spans.

"There was something about the second X chromosome that was protecting the mice from dying earlier in life, even if they had testes. What if there was something on that second X chromosome that was in some ways a sprinkle of the fountain of youth," says Dr Dubal. While scientists have not yet looked at this factor in humans, Dr Dubal suggests that humans have the same hormones and sex chromosomes, and similar reproductive system that could corroborate the similar findings in people.

Hormones

Plenty research has shown that estrogen is responsible for longevity also effect on the immune system. The data also shows that before menopause, the female immune system tends to do better. In fact Dr Benayoun said that males tend to do much worse in response to infection.

Another 2017 study titled, Ages at Menarche and Menopause and Reproductive Lifespan As Predictors of Exceptional Longevity in Women: The Women's Health Initiative, found that women who experienced menopause later in life over the age 50 lived longer than those who experienced it earlier.

Lifestyle and Behavior

There are also disparity in behavioral patterns between men and women. This includes smoking, drinking heavily, which can contribute significantly to mortality. Women also have more "health promoting behavior", believe experts. Women are also more likely to socialize than men and thus it protects them from detrimental effects of social isolation and loneliness. In fact, a 2023 analysis published in Jama Network, titled, Widening Gender Gap in Life Expectancy in the US, 2010-2021, found that women are less likely to die by drug overdose or suicide.

Metabolism-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) — also termed Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) — is defined by excess hepatic fat accumulation (>5 per cent of liver weight) in the presence of metabolic dysfunction, independent of alcohol intake. It encompasses a spectrum from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

MAFLD: Epidemiology In India

A Lancet Regional Health study found that approximately 39 per cent of Indian adults screened had fatty liver disease, making it one of the most prevalent chronic liver conditions in the country. Within India, prevalence shows regional variation driven by genetic, dietary, and socioeconomic factors.

A particularly important feature is the “lean MAFLD” phenotype — South Asians often develop fatty liver at a lower BMI due to disproportionately high visceral fat, which complicates detection based on conventional BMI screening. Currently, MASLD is the commonest cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

MAFLD: Causes And Risk Factors

The core drivers are components of metabolic syndrome: type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity (particularly central adiposity), dyslipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance. MASLD is strongly linked to obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and metabolic syndrome.

Genetic susceptibility also plays a role — variants in genes such as PNPLA3 are associated with increased liver fat accumulation, particularly in certain Indian populations. Rapid dietary transition towards ultra-processed, high-calorie foods compounds the risk.

MAFLD: Investigations

Routine liver function tests may appear normal in early stages, and an ultrasound detects only moderate-to-severe fat accumulation. A structured approach includes:

• Blood tests: LFTs, fasting glucose, HbA1c, lipid profile, insulin resistance indices
• Ultrasound abdomen: First-line imaging for steatosis
• FibroScan (Transient Elastography): Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) are standardized non-invasive tools for assessing fibrosis and steatosis.
• Liver biopsy: Gold standard for staging steatohepatitis and fibrosis when non-invasive tests are inconclusive.

MAFLD: Treatment

No approved pharmacotherapy exists exclusively for MAFLD; management is lifestyle-centred:

• Weight loss: 7–10 per cent body weight reduction significantly reduces hepatic steatosis and inflammation
• Diet: Mediterranean-style diet; restrict refined carbohydrates and saturated fats
• Exercise: Both aerobic and resistance training improve insulin sensitivity and liver fat
• Metabolic comorbidity control: Optimise glycaemia (GLP-1 agonists show hepatic benefit), manage dyslipidaemia and hypertension
• Emerging therapies: Resmetirom (thyroid hormone receptor-β agonist) has shown promise in MASH with fibrosis.

Once known to affect only people over 60, Parkinson’s Disease is now increasingly being seen in young adults, especially at the age of 40, said health experts on World Parkinson’s Day today.

World Parkinson’s Day is observed every year on April 11 to raise awareness about the brain condition that causes tremors, slowness of movement, and trouble walking.

Parkinson’s is a progressive and neurodegenerative movement disorder caused by the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells.

Progressive decline in mobility is a key issue among Parkinson's patients, impacting their independence and quality of life. Other problems include slow movement, tremor, imbalance, cognitive impairment, mental health disorders, sleep disorders, and pain.

Also read: World Parkinson's Day 2026: Origin, Theme And Global Burden

Young-onset Parkinson’s Disease

According to the American Parkinson's Disease Association, a diagnosis of Parkinson’s between the ages of 21 and 50 is referred to as early-onset Parkinson’s disease, or young-onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD).

Exposure to environmental toxins and lifestyle changes are major reasons for the rise in Parkinson's in this group.

While the symptoms of the disease are mostly the same at whatever age it develops, younger people will experience the disease differently due to their unique life circumstances. Managing the disease can be particularly challenging for a younger person and their family from a medical, psychological, and social standpoint.

"There is a perceived increase in younger-onset Parkinson’s in India. Possible reasons include better awareness and diagnosis (more neurologists, improved access to care), environmental exposures (pesticides, heavy metals), and air/water pollution. Lifestyle (sedentary habits) and urbanization-related factors may also contribute," Dr Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist at Apollo Hospitals Hyderabad, told HealthandMe.

A 2022 study, published in NPJ Parkinson's Disease, showed that the incidence of Parkinson’s disease, or the number of new cases diagnosed per year, is 50 per cent higher than previously estimated.

Instead of past estimates of 60,000 new cases of Parkinson’s disease diagnosed per year, the study determined that there are approximately 90,000 new cases of Parkinson's disease diagnosed in the US per year.

"Young-onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD) is on the rise, mainly in the middle socio-demographic index. These countries include India, China, and some Southeast Asian countries," Dr Paresh Doshi, Director of Neurosurgery and Stereotactic & Functional Neurosurgery at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre.

"According to one research paper, the age-standardized incidence rate has been rising at an alarming rate of 1.4 per cent per annum. To put it in perspective, if the incidence was 100/10,00,000 in 1995, it would be 153/10,00,000 in 2026," he added.

The experts noted that, along with the rising disability burden, mortality is reducing. The compound effect of all these is a larger number of YOPD patients suffering longer. Surgeries like deep-brain stimulation can help reduce these disabilities significantly.

Checklist for Parkinson’s: Signs You Should Not Ignore

Early recognition is critical, as many symptoms precede motor features by years.

Common early signs include:

• Reduced sense of smell (anosmia)
• Slowness of movement (bradykinesia)
• Reduced arm swing while walking
• Resting tremor
• Masked facies (reduced facial expression)
• Change in handwriting (micrographia)

Other important symptoms, which are often overlooked:

• Constipation
• Sleep disturbances (especially REM sleep Behavior disorder)
• Depression or anxiety.

Parkinson’s Disease is traditionally characterized by motor symptoms such as tremor and dyskinesia, although non-motor symptoms, in particular gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as constipation and incomplete emptying, are often the first markers of the disease and may precede the motor symptoms by years.

GI dysfunction is reported in approximately 70-80 per cent of Parkinson’s patients, mediated in large part through the gut-brain axis (GBA).

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr Paresh Doshi, Director of Neurosurgery and Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at Jaslok Hospital and Research Center, GBA, is an established two-way network that links the GI tract and the central nervous system (CNS). The connection is multifaceted, involving the vagus nerve, the enteric nervous system (ENS), the immune system, and a vast number of microbial metabolites and neuroendocrine signals.

“Constipation is seen in 66 per cent of Parkinson’s patients, attributed to disordered central and peripheral parasympathetic disruption, and can lead to alteration of the gut microbiome, which in turn worsens constipation, starting a feedback loop,” the doctor explained.

What Parkinson’s Patients Must Eat

Dr Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist at Apollo Hospitals Hyderabad, told HealthandMe that changes in the gut microbiome may influence inflammation, α-synuclein aggregation, and symptom progression.

Practical dietary principles for Parkinson’s patients include:

• Prefer fiber-rich, plant-based foods (vegetables, fruits, whole grains), which support gut microbiota
• Include fermented foods (curd, buttermilk), which may improve microbial diversity
• Reduce ultra-processed and pro-inflammatory foods
• Ensure adequate hydration (helps reduce the risk of constipation, a common non-motor symptom)
• Protein timing matters: Levodopa competes with amino acids for absorption.

These gut-targeted interventions are promising adjuncts to conventional Parkinson's therapy, and improving patient quality of life.

Parkinson’s Treatment With Dance, Art

Beyond gut-brain axis, research has proven that unconventional therapy, like dance and art, can improve Parkinson’s treatment.

A 2024 study published in the Scientific Reports found that tango, particularly Argentine tango, improved Parkinson's symptoms like thinking problems or balance issues. It also led to a significant improvement in recognizing emotions on people's faces.

Dr Kumar said dance therapy improves balance, gait, and coordination; provides rhythmic cueing, which enhances motor performance, and improves mood and motivation (dopamine-related pathways).

Similarly, art therapy has been shown to improve overall visual-cognitive skills and visual exploration strategies as well as general motor function in patients with Parkinson’s. The changes in brain connectivity highlight a functional reorganization of visual networks, as revealed by a study published in Parkinsonism & Related Disorders.

Dr Kumar said art and creative therapies are also helpful in enhancing cognitive engagement. It may help with executive function and emotional well-being and provide a non-verbal outlet for expression. However, these therapies work best as adjuncts, not replacements, to standard treatment, the expert noted.

World Parkinson’s Day 2026

World Parkinson's Day is observed annually on April 11 to raise global awareness of Parkinson’s disease, the world's fastest-growing neurodegenerative disorder.

It highlights the need for early diagnosis, research, and support for the nearly 10 million people living with the condition. The day marks the birthday of Dr. James Parkinson, who first described the disease in 1817.

The theme of World Parkinson's Day 2026 is "Bridge the Care Gap." It reflects a critical challenge that persists despite advances in medical research: many people living with Parkinson's still lack consistent access to specialist care, affordable treatment, and integrated support systems.

Parkinson's disease affected 11.9 million people in 2021 and will affect 25.2 million people globally by 2050, representing an alarming 112 per cent rise.