Men lose their Y chromosome as they age – how it may matter

4 hours ago

Men lose the Y chromosome as they age, previously thought to have little health impact.
Recent evidence links Y chromosome loss in men to serious diseases and shorter lifespan.
Y chromosome loss increases with age: 40% in 60-year-olds, 57% in 90-year-olds.
Environmental factors like smoking and carcinogens contribute to Y chromosome loss.
Y-less cells grow faster in culture, potentially giving them an advantage in tumors.
The Y chromosome is prone to errors during cell division, leading to its loss.
Despite having few genes, Y chromosome loss is associated with severe health conditions.
Loss of Y is linked to cardiovascular, neurodegenerative diseases, and various cancers.
Studies suggest Y chromosome loss may directly affect disease progression and mortality.
The Y chromosome contains genes with essential functions in gene regulation and cancer suppression.
Loss of Y affects gene expression and immune function, potentially impacting overall health.
Full sequencing of the Y chromosome may reveal more about its health impacts.

Hasty Briefsbeta