How might Darwinian medicine help explain why males tend to die younger than females?

Darwinian medicine explains that natural selection shapes bodies to maximize reproductive success rather than health or longevity. Consequently, traits that enhance reproduction may spread through a population even if they decrease an individual's health or lifespan.1

In many species, including humans, this evolutionary pressure contributes to higher mortality rates in males compared to females. This is particularly evident in polygynous species, where males compete intensely for mates. Because one male can potentially impregnate multiple females, the reproductive value of an individual male is often lower in an evolutionary sense than that of a female.12

As a result, natural selection favors an incremental investment in bodily protection and repair that benefits females more than males. While males may evolve traits that increase their success in securing mates—such as increased size or aggressiveness—these traits often come at the cost of reduced longevity. Thus, the disparity in mortality is viewed as a trade-off where evolutionary fitness is prioritized over the long-term survival of the male.132