Men's Interest in Sex Linked to Risk of Early Death, Japanese Study Finds

A lack of sexual interest may indicate an increased risk of early death for men in Japan.

Researchers will need to tease apart the relationship between mortality and libido to see if it is related to underlying health issues.

In Yamagata Prefecture, a mountainous region of Japan famous for its hot springs, temples, and natural beauty, 20,962 people aged 40 or older had their annual health checkup over the course of six years.

A team of researchers from Yamagata University looked at the subjects' levels of sexual interest when they were first asked about it. 503 of the original 20,962 subjects have died.

Men who reported a lack of sexual interest were more likely to die from cancer.

The association held even when they took into account factors such as age, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption, and education.

Although sexual activity and sexual satisfaction are seen as benefits to psychological health and wellbeing in older groups, the association between sexual interest and longevity has not been studied.

The study is the first to prospectively examine associations between sexual interest and all-cause mortality.

The study found that women were more likely to report a lack of sexual interest than men, but it did not find a correlation between the two.

There is no way to determine which factor is the cause and which is the effect.

Scientists suggest that lack of sexual interest among men could be related to healthy lifestyles.

If we assume that sexual interest is related to positive psychological factors, the absence of interest may affect a range of inflammatory, neuroendocrine, and immune responses

The researchers say that more research is needed to understand what is happening but that revealing a potential connection is important.

Important caveat in the study A person's lack of sexual interest was determined by a single question, "Do you have any interest in people of the same sex?"

The researchers acknowledge that people who are attracted to someone of the same sex are excluded.

Any person who answered "no" was considered to be lacking sexual interest. The study will consider sexual interest in someone of the same sex to be lacking.

Due to the question used in the study, there is reason to doubt at least some of the data. Future research should take this into account.

The new study did not adjust for certain "medically relevant elements known to affect sexual function and longevity" since they weren't included in the baseline survey.

It's possible that maintaining sexual interest could have positive effects on longevity. The researchers argue that raising awareness of sexual interest is a factor in public health among older populations in Japan.

The Canadian government has begun to promote sexual activity as part of an aging well agenda. There is more prejudice about sex among the elderly in Japan than in the western world, according to a study.

Promoting sexuality in Japan will help promote public health.

There is a study in the journal.