Fig 1. Predicted trajectories of allostatic load by sex: Main and interaction models.

(a) illustrates that both females and males experience an increase in allostatic load (AL) as they age, with females maintaining consistently lower AL levels throughout their lives. (b) reveals that males have higher AL levels than females until around age 68. However, the gap between the sexes narrows over time, with females surpassing males in AL during their late 60s.