Androgens Shorten the Longevity of Women: Sopranos Last Longer

Abstract

Earlier we found that longevity of castrati was identical to that of intact singers. These findings were in disagreement with the prevailing concept that testosterone might shorten life and might be responsible for the shorter life expectancy of men compared to women. We have now continued our research into the life expectancy of singers, considering them as a paradigm of nature to investigate life-long effects of sex hormones, and resulting in the finding that sopranos, being more oestrogenised, live significantly longer than altos who are more androgenised, while basses, more androgenised, show a tendency towards a longer life than tenors, who are less androgenised. These findings, supported by results of epidemiological investigations indicate that women are protected from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and osteoporosis by higher oestrogen levels, while the same effect maybe exerted in men by testosterone.

Key words

Vocal register - singers - oestrogens - testosterone - longevity

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