Why Are Some Older Women Healthier Than Men?

In 2019, the World Health Organization came up with a new way to check how well older people are doing, called the Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) framework. This study in Taiwan wanted to find out if there are differences in how men and women over 65 are doing health-wise. Can you guess who might have it tougher? Yep, it's often the ladies. Women in this age group may face more money troubles and less education, which can make it harder for them to take care of their bodies and minds. So, the study looked into how these factors affect their health compared to men. First, let's talk about what "intrinsic capacity" means. It's like the body's ability to do things, like seeing, hearing, thinking, walking, and taking care of oneself. The study found that women tend to have lower intrinsic capacity than men, especially in areas like mobility and vitality. But get this, when they looked at the role of education and money, the picture changed. Women with higher education and better jobs had similar or even better health than men in the same situation. So, it's not just about being a woman, it's also about having the right resources. The study suggests that if we want to help older women live better, we need to make sure they have access to education and good jobs. This way, they can take better care of themselves and stay healthier for longer.