Loss of Y chromosomes leads to age-related diseases and early death for men

For years, science has known of a link between Y chromosome loss and a shorter lifespan. But a new study shows that loss of the Y chromosome can directly contribute to life-threatening age-related conditions, like heart disease.

Researchers from University of Virginia School of Medicine and Uppsala University in Sweden found a causal relationship between the loss of the Y chromosome and the process of aging itself, potentially helping to explain why men tend to die younger than women.

A report in the journal Science, “Hematopoietic loss of Y chromosome leads to cardiac fibrosis and heart failure mortality,” suggests the connection between a loss of Y chromosomes and heart disease is so strong that it may be useful to screen for that chromosome loss to identify whether a man is at risk of cardiovascular problems.  

Writing about the study in The Conversation, researcher Kenneth Walsh reports that mice that experienced a loss of the Y chromosome aged poorly and died at an earlier age than mice that still had Y chromosomes. Researchers also found the Y chromosome-loss mice had more buildup of scar tissue in the heart, a condition called fibrosis, and a decline in heart function.

Researchers found they could restore lost heart function in mice by administering a drug that blocks TGF-beta, a molecule involved in the production of scar tissue, though no analysis was done with humans.

To assess the impact of Y chromosome loss in humans, researchers analyzed data from the U.K. Biobank, a database of medical and genetic data from 500,000 participants in the U.K.

They found that men who had lost their Y chromosomes in over 40% of their white blood cells had a 31% increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared with men who had not lost the chromosomes. They also found a two- to three-fold increase in the risk of dying from congestive heart failure or heart disease.

The study has implications for men, who tend to die about five years younger than women. Men have one X and one Y chromosome. Women have two X’s. At least 40 percent of males lose the Y chromosome from some of their blood cells by age 70. And by age 93, at least 57 percent have lost some of it.

While more research must be done, the study underscores the importance of our “Restock the shelves” strategy, which recognizes that each person is constantly being dismantled, destroyed and rebuilt at the cellular level.

As we age, our ability to successfully "retire" harmful cells weakens, as does our ability to rebuild. This strategy addresses the need to provide the aged body with the tools required to rebuild and protect.  

“Restock the shelves” is one of the seven strategies that guide Foundation investments, planning and policies. We came up with our seven strategies because there is no single solution that will lengthen the healthy human lifespan. It will take a combination of things to help us reach our goal of making 90 the new 50 by 2030.

Join us to bring this dream to life.  Donate to Methuselah Foundation.