Women win ‘age-old’ battle of the sexes

Four times more Irishwomen than men live to 100

IT may have been over 100 years since Irish women got the vote but they are way ahead of men when it comes to reaching the century age milestone.

In the longevity stakes of the battle of the sexes, women are over four times as likely as men to live to be 100, latest statistics show.

Figures released by the Department of Social Protection for the past three years show that 577 women, compared to 138 men, became centenarians.

Last year, 192 women turned 100 while 55 men reached the momentous mark. In 2017, just 39 men received the big cheque from President Michael D Higgins compared to 189 women. In 2016, 44 men and 196 women celebrated 100th birthdays.

Under the Centenarian Bounty Scheme, each person reaching the age of 100 receives a congratulatory letter from the President as well as a cheque for €2,540.

The award is given to all persons resident here on their 100th birthday, as well as Irish nationals living abroad. A total of €627,380 was paid out during 2018 while overall for the past three years, more than €1.8million was given to centenarians.

Scientists and researchers attribute women living longer than men to hormonal and physiological advantages. Furthermore, childbirth conditions improved from the 1930s onwards, and women are better at looking after themselves than men, as they are less likely to smoke and drink heavily and to be involved in road accidents.

Last month, a research paper suggested a genetic link to better female longevity. The research, published in the Aging Cell journal, studied the development of mice chromosomes and found the X chromosome may be a boost when it comes to ageing – males have an X and a Y chromosome, while females have two X chromosomes.

Scientists don’t fully understand why the second X chromosome helps females live longer but believe it may be that the second X has a protective effect on cells.

Regardless of gender, Diarmuid O’Shea, president of the Irish Gerontological Society, said Ireland should be planning for an ageing population. He said ‘clinical programmes and overall public health plans etc will have to be addressed’ in the years ahead as the demand for nursing home places rises along with an ageing population.