Gaby
An American scientist has proposed a rather radical method for extending the lifespan of male mammals. Kat Bohannon, the renowned author of the book “Eve: How the Female Body Influenced 200 Million Years of Human Evolution,” believes that castration can lead to longer lives for male members of any mammal species.
Dr. Bohannon shared her insights with the audience at the Hay Festival in Wales.
According to her, men have always traveled the world in search of the key to longevity, “smuggling two tiny deadly nuggets.” However, research shows that a few extra precious years can be gained through orchiectomy, or the removal of the testicles.
This effect was notably observed in the mid-20th century among male patients in American medical facilities, who were castrated due to mental health issues.
Bohannon also recalled the experiences of Korean eunuchs, as reported by The Guardian. A 2012 study published in Current Biology revealed that the average lifespan of 81 eunuchs born between 1556 and 1861 was 70 years. This is 14.4 to 19.1 years longer than the lifespan of non-castrated men. The authors of that study concluded that male sex hormones are likely responsible for shortening the lives of males.
As Ms. Bohannon noted, the connection between orchiectomy and the number of years lived seems to “have some deep relation to the immune system and cellular regeneration.” Throughout their lives, men are more susceptible to infections, they are more likely to develop cancer than women, and they have poorer prospects for longevity. In contrast, castrated men tend to live longer.
The question remains: what to do with this discovery? It’s hard to imagine that men would take such an extraordinary method of extending life seriously.
