[h=1]Scientists find the secret of longer life for men (the bad news: Castration is the key)[/h]
By Mark Prigg Daily Mail EXCERPT:
PUBLISHED: 13:10 EST, 24 September 2012 | UPDATED: 13:12 EST, 24 September 2012
Scientists have found a sure-fire way for men to live longer - but most red-blooded males will find the method unpalatably painful.
Researchers have shown that eunuchs - castrated men living in Korea centuries ago - outlived other men by a significant margin.
They say their findings suggest that male sex hormones are responsible for shortening the lives of men.
The evidence comes after careful study of genealogy records of noble members of the Imperial court of the Korean Chosun dynasty (AD 1392-1910).
Kyung-Jin Min, of Inha University, said: 'This discovery adds an important clue for understanding why there is a difference in the expected life span between men and women.'
The castrated boys in Korea lost their reproductive organs in accidents - usually after being bitten by dogs - or underwent castration purposefully to gain early access to the palace.
Eunuchs were allowed to marry and had families by adopting castrated boys or normal girls.
People in those days kept careful genealogy records as proof that they were of the noble class.
By Mark Prigg Daily Mail EXCERPT:
PUBLISHED: 13:10 EST, 24 September 2012 | UPDATED: 13:12 EST, 24 September 2012
Scientists have found a sure-fire way for men to live longer - but most red-blooded males will find the method unpalatably painful.
Researchers have shown that eunuchs - castrated men living in Korea centuries ago - outlived other men by a significant margin.
They say their findings suggest that male sex hormones are responsible for shortening the lives of men.
The evidence comes after careful study of genealogy records of noble members of the Imperial court of the Korean Chosun dynasty (AD 1392-1910).
Kyung-Jin Min, of Inha University, said: 'This discovery adds an important clue for understanding why there is a difference in the expected life span between men and women.'
The castrated boys in Korea lost their reproductive organs in accidents - usually after being bitten by dogs - or underwent castration purposefully to gain early access to the palace.
Eunuchs were allowed to marry and had families by adopting castrated boys or normal girls.
People in those days kept careful genealogy records as proof that they were of the noble class.
