Women live longer than men, but that does not mean that this is necessarily due to better health.
Women have poorer health than men in old age. This is apparent from research at the Free University in Amsterdam (VU), which looked at data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, an aging study by the VU. For this, people over 55 from Amsterdam, Zwolle and Oss are followed.
Read also: 'Women too tired to live a healthy life'
Physical tests showed that women perform just as well as men until their forties, but in the age group of 55-65 years there is suddenly a big difference.
According to researcher Lena Sialino, the combination of biology and lifestyle can explain a lot. “Women generally have a higher percentage of body fat and are more likely to suffer from osteoarthritis and obesity.” According to her, the impact of unhealthy behavior can also be greater in women. For example, the female brain reacts differently to a cigarette.
But according to Sialino, women are living healthier lives and are more likely to see a doctor. “These are both protective factors in aging. Otherwise, the difference might be even greater.
Source:Trouw.nl
