India, Feb. 13 -- Loss of the Y chromosome increases sharply with age in men

Up to 57% of 90-year-old men show loss of Y in some cells

Associated with cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer's and COVID mortality

New research suggests Y may play wider roles in gene regulation

Men tend to lose the Y chromosome from their cells as they age. But because the Y bears few genes other than for male determination, it was thought this loss would not affect health.

But evidence has mounted over the past few years that when people who have a Y chromosome lose it, the loss is associated with serious diseases throughout the body, contributing to a shorter lifespan.

Loss of the Y in older men

New techniques to detect Y chromosome genes show fr...