A healthy lifestyle may be able to counteract around 60% of the effects of 'lifespan-shortening' genes. … [+]
Some people still live to be over 100 years old. Some people are not so lucky. What separates the two groups? Part of the answer comes down to simple luck. It is known that genes play an important role in shaping lifespan. For some, this means having an innate tendency to live longer, and for others, it means facing an uphill battle.
But the good news is that you also have a say in your lifestyle choices, the decisions you make every day about things like diet and exercise. In fact, a healthy lifestyle can counteract about 60% of the effects of “lifespan-shortening” genes, potentially extending your lifespan by an additional five years. These are the results of a new large-scale study published in the journal. british medical journal.
big data, big discoveries
To study how lifestyle and genetics interact to influence longevity, researchers collected relevant genetic, biological, and health data from 353,742 participants. They then tracked their health for about 13 years.
Based on their complete genetic information, including the presence of protective or deleterious mutations, participants were placed into one of three longevity categories: those whose genes extended lifespan (20%); Those with an implied lifespan (60%) and those whose genes predispose them to a shorter lifespan (20%).
In addition to genetic categories, researchers also categorized each participant into lifestyle score categories: favorable (23%), moderate (56%), and unfavorable (21%). A lifestyle 'score' was calculated based on people's sleeping habits, whether and how much they drank or smoked, what kind of food they ate, and whether they engaged in physical activity. The best combination for living longer includes quitting smoking, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and getting a good eight hours of sleep.
The results revealed that people genetically predisposed to short lives were 21% more likely to die early than those with advantageous genes. And this was true regardless of lifestyle decisions. Still, people with genes that shorten their lifespans have much to gain from living a healthy life. He could offset the genetic effects by more than 60% and extend lifespan by up to 5 years.
Conversely, people with unhealthy lifestyles were 78% more likely to die early, regardless of their genetic condition. Even the most favorable genes cannot protect you from poor lifestyle choices.
Piling an unhealthy lifestyle on top of unfavorable genes has the worst possible outcome, with more than twice the risk of premature death compared to people with a nutritious lifestyle and protective longevity genes. Increased.
Take-out
Although we have no say in the genes we are given, we do have some say in how we choose to live our lives. This study reveals that such lifestyle choices play a major role in shaping longevity. While lucky genes can give you a head start, that advantage can easily be undone by a questionable lifestyle. Fortunately, the opposite is also true. In other words, by living a healthy lifestyle, you can push back against the influence of unfavorable genes. This reduces risk and increases longevity.
From a health systems perspective, it is clear that we need to invest in policies that promote healthy living. As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. However, it goes without saying that nothing happens in a vacuum.
For many people, even though they would like to make healthy choices, it is not possible. They may live in food deserts, lack easy and affordable access to sports facilities, or lack health insurance coverage. To live a long and healthy life, there should be no salary barrier. We need to start thinking about health and longevity as a social issue rather than a purely individual choice.
