According to a new study by researchers from UCL and the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) in France, women are more likely than men to experience difficulties with everyday tasks as they age. However, according to the researchers, these differences in the ability to perform everyday tasks have steadily decreased as the socio-economic gap between the sexes has narrowed. The study conducted was international and was published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity. It included 27,000 men and 34,000 women between the ages of 50 and 100, born between 1895 and 1960. The participants are from 14 different countries. The obtained results show that the overall functional status of women, which includes their mobility and ability to perform various activities, is limited as they age. Women over the age of 75 experience three or more difficulties in their daily activities such as climbing stairs, shopping for groceries, reaching or stretching their arms. They may also have difficulty with more complex tasks such as managing finances, using the telephone, taking medication or preparing food. In men, these difficulties are usually about 2, and for 85-year-olds the probability of a greater number of them is 10% lower than in women. The researchers in the study noted the possible historical influence on both sexes. Socio-economic factors such as education and the work environment are important and may partly explain these differences, as low education and domestic and unpaid work disproportionately expose women to health risks that can lead to disability. The obtained results and conclusions of this study are relevant for the construction of gender equality in education and employment of women, which aims to equalize the risk of health conditions in old age. It is important to note, however, that there are some limitations in the study information provided, such as a lack of clinical data on chronic diseases. Sources: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(21)00249-X/fulltext