Timing puberty in boys: a potential key to men’s lifelong health
Researchers say puberty timing is a meaningful predictor of men's health later in life, but male puberty research is still catching up to female studies. Early puberty in boys is linked to higher risks of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, depression, and ADHD; late puberty carries its own mental-health risks. About 76 genetic variants affect male puberty timing, offering potential risk scores and early interventions, though robust longitudinal data are still needed. Advances include new puberty-measurement methods and AI 'puberty age' models to guide screening and prevention, with noninvasive lifestyle and mental-health strategies on the horizon and pharmacological timing adjustments still unproven.
