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Why Men Die First

Men are all too willing to bet a stack of survivorship chips if the big payout is the possibility of sex. Michael Shermer reviews “How Men Age” by Richard G. Bribiescas.

Aging is the decline in physiological function that occurs over time, caused by a combination of physics, genes, disease and other environmental assaults and stressors. Aging is highly heritable, which is why physicians and insurance companies always ask about the age of your parents and the causes of their deaths. But there is no “gene” for aging or even a suite of genes. Aging happens across most systems in your body, and there’s only so much you can do to stave off its inevitable effects.

Richard G. Bribiescas, a professor...