The Other Longevity Gender Gap

BusinessThe Other Longevity Gender GapByDr. Marschall Runge,Forbes Books Author.for Forbes BooksAUTHOR POSTExpertise and opinions of authors published by ForbesBooks. Imprint operated under license. | Paid ProgramJun 17, 2026, 10:18am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.When it comes to longevity, men seek quantity while women seek quality. gettyWe humans spend a lot of time seeking more time.The ancient kings of Egypt allegedly bathed in blood, believing it would rejuvenate them. A fifteenth-century physician treating Pope Innocent VIII reportedly bought blood from three young boys, which was then either transfused into or ingested by the pope to extend his life. And a century and a half later, doctors caring for the 41-year-old King Louis XIII of France bled the monarch 47 times, gave him 215 laxatives, and administered 210 enemas in preparation for an age-defying blood transfusion that failed to extend his lifespan to 42.We may shudder (or laugh) at these primitive interventions, but parabiosis (experimenting with how shared blood and hormones affect aging) is more popular than ever. It is a protocol followed by many tech investors whose names are commonly associated with the most visible pursuits of extending lifespan, including Peter Thiel and Bryan Johnson. Meanwhile, Sam Altman and Jeff Bezos are both investing millions in companies researching cellular reprogramming and cellular rejuvenation. In some ways, the “don’t die” philosophy is at the heart of a new competitive arena for the world’s wealthiest men. I say men because there’s a fascinating gender gap when it comes to longevity. I’m not talking about the fact that women live an average of five years longer than men in the U.S., and seven years longer worldwide. What’s remarkable, instead, is the different goals pursued by men and women regarding longevity—a difference that can be boiled down to quantity versus quality....