Lifestyle choices are key to longevity, not genetics

A new study suggests that our environment and lifestyle choices are much more important than our genes when it comes to how long we live. Published in the journal Nature Medicine, this research analyzed data from the UK Biobank, which includes detailed health and lifestyle information from around 500,000 people. The study looked at various environmental factors—like smoking, physical activity, and living conditions—along with genetic data. It aimed to see how these factors affect our biological age, which is how quickly our bodies age, rather than just how many years we have lived. Researchers found that while age and gender were significant factors for mortality, environmental factors accounted for about 17% of lifespan differences, compared to less than 2% from genetics. This strongly supports the idea that the choices we make in life have a larger impact on our longevity. Different diseases were influenced by various factors. Environmental elements played a major role in illnesses like lung and heart disease, while genetic factors were more important for risks related to certain cancers and dementia. Notably, being taller at age ten was unexpectedly linked to a shorter lifespan. Interestingly, the study did not find a clear link between diet and biological aging, which contradicts other research emphasizing the importance of good nutrition. This might be due to limitations in how dietary data was gathered. The study also highlighted that factors like income and home ownership affect longevity, emphasizing the need to address social issues to help everyone live healthier lives. Overall, the findings suggest that although genetics matter, our daily choices about health and lifestyle play a crucial role in determining how long we live.