Is the Decreased Longevity among Left-Handers Related to an Increase in Heart Disease?

2008/10/01 by John R. Hughes, Elizabeth Dorner, Michele Wind · 1 citation
Neuroscience · Medicine · #Hemispheric Asymmetry in Neuroscience #Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control #Functional Brain Connectivity Studies

paper · doi:10.1177/155005940803900406

openalex publication_date 2008/10/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/26

Abstract

Many studies report that left-handers have a shorter longevity than right-handers, and the present study may provide a possible explanation for that finding. In a Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit for the elderly with a mean age of 75.2 years the prevalence of left-handers was 16.7%. This latter value was significantly different (p = 0.0028) from the 6.7% in controls of similar age. These data suggest that heart disease may be one reason for a reduced longevity among left-handers. Left-handers use the right hemisphere for movement, and unilateral activation of that hemisphere in the form of EEG desynchronization and deactivation in the form of EEG slow waves are both related to cardiac abnormalities.

Citations

• Evidence for longevity differences between left handed and right handed men: an archival study of cricketers.
• Left-handedness and risk of breast cancer

Cited by

• Handedness [wikipedia]

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