THE AVERAGE FILIPINO male will live until the age of 70, while the average Filipino female will live until 74, according to the data on life expectancy. This gender gap is true across countries, races and even species, as studies have found that female apes live longer than their male counterparts.

While previous researchers linked the shorter male lifespan to testosterone’s role in risky behaviors, a study found that the mortality gap could be embedded all the way in the chromosomes. It revealed that across many different animal species, whichever sex had the identical sex chromosomes lived an average of 17.6% longer than the sex with nonidentical chromosomes.

The study followed 229 different animal species and found that having un-matching or shorter chromosomes resulted in a shorter lifespan, despite gender. The trend remained in species like bullfrogs or birds, where it is the males who have matching chromosomes, and thus lived longer.

The study also found that estrogen appears to prevent aging by protecting the ends of an individual’s chromosomes.

While the findings very clearly point to chromosomal homogeny being important to longevity, additional factors such as predation, risky behaviors, establishing territories and access to quality nutrition also have important impacts on life span.

Research also suggests that age is more than just a number. Regardless of how many birthdays you’ve celebrated, your overall health may depend on the resilience and vitality of your cells.

It’s a concept known as biological, or epigenetic, aging. Chronological age is what the calendar tells us Biological age looks beyond the calendar to provide clues for how well someone’s health stands the test of time.

Genetic factors intertwine with environmental factors, such as pollutants and toxins, and lifestyle habits, like diet and exercise, to alter DNA methylation and influence cell function. The idea is that everything can have an impact at the cellular level, which could potentially have implications for predicting disease risk and longevity.

Consumer tests can offer insights into lifestyle changes that might help slow biological aging. The research team recently found that women who followed a diet with healthy nutrients such as folate and magnesium, showed signs of younger biological age, while women who consumed diets higher in added sugar were found to have older biological ages.  

Understanding biological aging can be empowering. But it’s just as important to remember that it is not the end all. We don’t suggest people go out and get tested and think they’ve determined how long they are going to live. It’s one source of information, and it’s not definitive in any way, especially since it changes. The main idea is that day-to-day habits can potentially influence health right down to the cellular level. Any steps, even small steps, towards staying healthy may have benefits.

While we can test biological age for some insights into how well someone is aging, for now, the best way to stay healthy is to keep up to date with check-ups and follow the recommendations from your doctor. Let this be our New Year Resolution for 2025! By Manny Palomar, PhD (EV Mail JAN. 6-12, 2025 issue)