A first-of-its-kind study shows that even if your genetics put you at risk for premature death, a healthy lifestyle can add five years to your life.
Researchers say exercising, eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and not smoking can offset the risk by up to 62 percent.
This means that even people who are about a fifth more likely to die prematurely based on their DNA have the power to reduce their chances, the researchers said.
Dr. Jilong Bian from Zhejiang University in China said: “Participants with a high genetic risk could increase their life expectancy at age 40 by about 5.22 years if they practiced a good lifestyle.” .
The “optimal lifestyle combination” for longevity was found to be “no smoking, regular physical activity, enough sleep, and a healthy diet.”
Previous research has shown that lifestyle factors such as getting enough exercise, sleep, and eating a healthy diet while avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and unhealthy foods can help improve longevity.
It is also well established that some people have a higher genetic risk of dying early.
The latest study, published in the journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, is the first to examine the extent to which lifestyle factors can reduce genetic risk.
Researchers followed 353,742 people in the UK Biobank for an average of 13 years, during which time 24,239 people died.
People were divided into three genetically determined lifespan categories: long-lived (20.1%), medium-lived (60.1%), and short-lived (19.8%).
Lifestyle scores were also divided into three categories: favorable (23.1 percent), intermediate (55.6 percent), and unfavorable (21.3 percent).
Researchers used polygenic risk scores to examine multiple genetic variations to derive a person's overall genetic predisposition to a longer or shorter lifespan.
Other scores looked at whether people smoked, whether they drank alcohol, whether they exercised, their body shape, healthy eating, and sleep.
The results showed that regardless of lifestyle, people with high genetic risk had a 21 percent higher risk of dying prematurely than those with low genetic risk.
Meanwhile, people with unhealthy lifestyles have a 78% increased chance of dying prematurely, regardless of genetic risk.
People with both an unhealthy lifestyle and a short-lifespan gene have more than twice the risk of dying prematurely compared to people with luckier genes and a healthier lifestyle.
Despite genetic factors, living a healthy lifestyle, including eating a balanced, nutritious diet and staying active, can help you live longer.
matt lambert
Researchers included staff from China's Zhejiang University School of Medicine and the University of Edinburgh.
Matt Lambert, senior health information officer at the World Cancer Research Fund, said: “This new research shows that despite genetic factors, eating a balanced, nutritious diet and staying active “This shows that living a healthy lifestyle can help you live longer.”
“We also know that it may reduce cancer risk.”
He admits that “making healthy changes can be daunting,” but recommends the foundation's online healthy living program, Activ8, as a guide.
4 easy lifestyle adjustments
“Optimal lifestyle combination”
- never smoke
- regular physical activity
- appropriate sleep time
- healthy diet
Source: BMJ