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In summary, our seven-year follow-up assessing survival in a general elderly population from the province of Treviso, Italy, confirmed that males and females do differ in genetic and bio- chemical parameters correlating with longevity and suggested a possible combined effect of these two factors on survival.

Declaration of interest: This study was supported by grants from the Veneto Region, the Treviso Municipality, Treviso Province and Fondazione Veneto Banca. LP is recipient of a fellowship from “Golgi Cenci Foundation”, Abbiategrasso, Milan, Italy. We thank Judith Baggott for editing of the English language.

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