Why Aging Feels Different For Men And Women - Forbes

What the report says

Forbes contributor Meggen Harris reported on July 23, 2026, that researchers and wellness practitioners are looking beyond hormones to explain why aging can feel different for men and women. The article focuses on fascia, the bodywide connective-tissue network involved in movement and support, and the lymphatic system, which helps manage fluid balance, waste filtering and immune function. The piece frames stiffness, slower recovery, reduced flexibility and swelling as common age-related experiences that may be influenced by these systems as well as by hormones.

The report cites Dr. Catherine Clinton, a licensed naturopathic physician, who describes fascia as responsive to movement, loading, hydration, recovery and the body’s internal environment. It also cites Lisa Levitt Gainsley, a certified lymphatic therapist and author, who emphasizes that lymph flow depends partly on muscle activity because the lymphatic system does not have a central pump like the heart. Forbes notes that walking, strength training, mobility work, breathing, sleep, hydration and nutrition are presented by the experts as ways to support healthy function over time.

On sex differences, Forbes reports that men and women may experience changes differently because of hormones, connective-tissue structure and body composition. Clinton says women’s fascia is generally more elastic, while men’s tends to be stiffer, and that estrogen affects collagen turnover, hyaluronic acid production and tissue hydration. The article says perimenopause and menopause may contribute to stiffness, joint discomfort and reduced flexibility as estrogen declines.

The piece matters because it places popular wellness terms in a broader healthy-aging discussion while cautioning that hormones are not the only explanation. Based on the supplied text, Forbes presents fascia and lymphatic health as evolving areas of interest rather than a complete answer to aging differences.