Why the disposable soma theory cannot explain why women live longer and why we age

The most influential line of reasoning in gerontology is known as Disposable Soma Theory (DST). In brief, the theory states that aging is caused by accumulation of random damage, which is counteracted by repair. Repair is costly and the organism allocates exactly the needed amount of energetic resources. Recently, DST was applied to explain why women live longer than men [1]. Women are less disposable than men, so they need a better repair and thus live longer [1].