Scientists at the University of Virginia have made a major discovery that helps explain why men often live shorter lives than women. Their research shows that the loss of the Y chromosome—a common genetic change in aging men—can lead to scarring in the heart and increase the risk of heart failure.
Men typically have one X and one Y chromosome, while women have two X chromosomes. As men get older, many begin to lose the Y chromosome in some of their cells, especially in blood cells. By age 70, about 40% of men are affected, and the risk is even higher in smokers.
Although past studies have linked Y chromosome loss to diseases like Alzheimer’s and early death, this new research is the first to show that losing the Y chromosome directly harms men’s health.
Led by researcher Kenneth Walsh, the team used CRISPR gene-editing tools to remove the Y chromosome from blood cells in mice, creating a model that closely mimics what happens in aging men. The results were striking: the mice aged faster, developed more scarring in the heart (a condition known as fibrosis), and died sooner than normal mice.
The scarring wasn’t just caused by inflammation. The researchers discovered that the immune system reacted in a way that caused tissue to thicken and scar throughout the body. This same type of damage was also seen in men who had lost more Y chromosomes, linking the amount of loss to a higher risk of heart disease, heart failure, and death.
This finding suggests that the Y chromosome plays a protective role in the body, helping to keep the heart and other organs functioning well as men age.
There is also hope for treatment. The researchers found that a drug called pirfenidone, which is already approved by the FDA for a type of lung scarring, could help.
Since pirfenidone reduces fibrosis, it may also protect the heart and other organs from damage linked to Y chromosome loss. The drug is currently being tested for heart failure and kidney disease, both of which involve tissue scarring.
Beyond heart health, the study suggests that Y chromosome loss might affect other parts of the body and speed up age-related illnesses. Walsh believes this genetic change could account for most of the five-year difference in average lifespan between men and women in the U.S.
This discovery highlights the importance of studying how our genes change as we age and how those changes affect our health. It also raises important questions about lifestyle choices, like smoking, which may speed up Y chromosome loss and increase the risk of serious diseases.
In the future, drugs like pirfenidone or other new treatments could help reduce the effects of Y chromosome loss, allowing men to live longer and healthier lives.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies that herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm, and how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that apple juice could benefit your heart health, and results showing yogurt may help lower the death risks in heart disease.
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