The immune systems of men and women differ in significant ways, especially after puberty.
In particular, females are generally more prone to autoimmunity, but experience lower rates
of infections and chronic inflammatory disease. Sex hormones, genes encoded on the sex
chromosomes, and gender-specific behaviors likely contribute to these differences. The
aging process is associated with changes in the composition and function of the immune
system and these changes may occur at an accelerated rate in men as compared to women …