Study finds female longevity advantage across mammals

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute report in Science Advances (Oct. 2025) that females outlive males across a broad sample of mammals — analyzing 528 species and finding females lived about 13% longer in 72% of species — and link the gap to genetics, mating‑related risky behaviors and caretaking roles. The NPR report frames U.S. relevance (a 5.8‑year U.S. life‑expectancy gap in 2021) and quotes study author Fernando Colchero and Harvard public‑health expert Alan Geller, noting researchers say men could narrow the gap by adopting more regular preventive care and healthier behaviors.