Blonds live longer than redheads and brunettes — this is due to the time of puberty

The timing of puberty in different populations has significant differences due to both environmental and genetic factors. However, studies show that the age of puberty affects the probability and timing of many diseases. Thus, early puberty is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers. 

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have analyzed the genomes of more than 207,000 men whose data were stored in a British biobank, in order to identify the genes responsible for puberty and to determine what other signs they correlate with. Participants were also asked to remember at what time they had the first signs of puberty, such as facial, armpit and pubic hair growth, and voice breaking. Men with black, dark brown and red hair were found to have puberty earlier than blondes or boys with lighter shades of hair. DNA analysis revealed that the genes responsible for hair color were located near the areas that regulate the time of occurrence of pubertate. 

Thus, scientists found a connection between hair pigmentation and the risk of developing diseases in men that correlate with the early onset of puberty. The researchers also found that each year "postponement" of Pubertate "gives" an additional nine months of life.