Sex-specific Aging in Animals: Perspective and Future Directions

Authors

Anne M. Bronikowski, Iowa State University
Richard P. Meisel, University of Houston
Peggy R. Biga, University of Alabama - Birmingham
James R. Walters, University of Kansas - Lawrence
Judith E. Mank, University of British Columbia - Vancouver
Erica Larschan, Brown University
Gerald S. Wilkinson, University of Maryland - College Park
Nicole Valenzuela, Iowa State University
Ashley Mae Conard, Brown University
João Pedro de Magalhães, University of Liverpool
Jingyue (Ellie) Duan, Cornell University - Ithaca
Amy E. Elias, Brown University
Tony Gamble, Marquette UniversityFollow
Rita M. Graze, Auburn University
Kristin E. Gribble, Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution
Jill A. Kreiling, Brown University
Nicole C. Riddle, University of Alabama - Birmingham

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2022

Publisher

Wiley Open Access

Source Publication

Aging Cell

Source ISSN

1474-9718

Abstract

Sex differences in aging occur in many animal species, and they include sex differences in lifespan, in the onset and progression of age-associated decline, and in physiological and molecular markers of aging. Sex differences in aging vary greatly across the animal kingdom. For example, there are species with longer-lived females, species where males live longer, and species lacking sex differences in lifespan. The underlying causes of sex differences in aging remain mostly unknown. Currently, we do not understand the molecular drivers of sex differences in aging, or whether they are related to the accepted hallmarks or pillars of aging or linked to other well-characterized processes. In particular, understanding the role of sex-determination mechanisms and sex differences in aging is relatively understudied. Here, we take a comparative, interdisciplinary approach to explore various hypotheses about how sex differences in aging arise. We discuss genomic, morphological, and environmental differences between the sexes and how these relate to sex differences in aging. Finally, we present some suggestions for future research in this area and provide recommendations for promising experimental designs.

Comments

Published version. Aging Cell, Vol. 21, No. 2 (February 2022): e13542. DOI. This article is © 2022 The Authors. Published by Anatomical Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Used with permission

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Bronikowski, Anne M.; Meisel, Richard P.; Biga, Peggy R.; Walters, James R.; Mank, Judith E.; Larschan, Erica; Wilkinson, Gerald S.; Valenzuela, Nicole; Conard, Ashley Mae; de Magalhães, João Pedro; Duan, Jingyue (Ellie); Elias, Amy E.; Gamble, Tony; Graze, Rita M.; Gribble, Kristin E.; Kreiling, Jill A.; and Riddle, Nicole C., "Sex-specific Aging in Animals: Perspective and Future Directions" (2022). Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications. 908.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bio_fac/908