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.

Transitions among Health States Using 12 Measures of Successful Aging in Men and Women: Results from the Cardiovascular Health Study

“…Historical analyses suggest that the environmental pressures of infectious disease and resource availability have caused women to live longer [39]. Some research suggests that lower mortality among women could be attributable to a low-risk, healthy lifestyle [40, 41], or to lack of male hormones such as testosterone [42]. Other factors include the unequal distribution of chronic conditions, health behaviors like smoking, and differential effects of diseases on mortality [40].…”

The Influence of Female Reproductive Factors on Longevity: A Systematized Narrative Review of Epidemiological Studies

“…First, Nieschlag et al (2003) evaluated androgens and estrogens’ role on lifespan beyond age 80 years in a cohort of 292 female singers from North America and Central Europe ( Nieschlag et al, 2003 ). It was found that those with body features mirroring higher testosterone levels (i.e., deeper singing voice, taller height, and increased muscle mass) had a shorter lifespan than women with estrogen-influenced features (i.e., higher singing voice, shorter height, and decreased muscle mass; Nieschlag et al, 2003 ). However, no information on whether women were receiving any hormone therapy or had taken oral contraceptives was given ( Nieschlag et al, 2003 ).…”

“…It was found that those with body features mirroring higher testosterone levels (i.e., deeper singing voice, taller height, and increased muscle mass) had a shorter lifespan than women with estrogen-influenced features (i.e., higher singing voice, shorter height, and decreased muscle mass; Nieschlag et al, 2003 ). However, no information on whether women were receiving any hormone therapy or had taken oral contraceptives was given ( Nieschlag et al, 2003 ). Second, Jaspers et al (2017) analyzed data from 4,076 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Rotterdam Study and showed that women with longer unopposed endogenous estrogen duration had a 4% increased hazard for all-cause mortality compared to women with shorter exposure to unopposed estrogen ( Jaspers et al, 2017 ).…”

Possible Gender Differences in Classical Music, Flamenco and Fado

“… 32 After checking steroid levels in voice musicians, Nieschlag et al, found androgens might shorten and estrogens might extend life expectancy in female singers, while in male singers, the opposite is true. 33 Differences in hormones are very present in classical musicians, 1 however, performances between genders are not remarkably different.…”