- One study found a link between a healthy lifestyle and a longer life.
- This is true regardless of whether people are genetically predisposed to longevity.
- Research suggests that lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet and exercise can extend your lifespan.
Research suggests that healthy lifestyle choices can help you live up to five years longer, regardless of your genetic makeup.
As life expectancy increases around the world, there is a growing interest in living as long and healthily as possible, with some seeking to reduce their “biological age” and others turning to personalized medicine to prevent health problems. Some people turn their heads. There is evidence that a combination of a person's genetics and lifestyle determines longevity, but a study published Monday in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine is the first to compare their effects on longevity. It is considered.
The study looked at data from 353,742 adults of European ancestry collected between 2006 and 2010 to determine whether genes or lifestyle have a greater impact on longevity. Their health status was tracked until 2021.
Researchers ranked participants based on whether they were genetically susceptible to diseases that can shorten their lives and whether they lived a healthy lifestyle. Non-smoking, regular exercise, healthy eating, sufficient sleep, a healthy body shape, and moderate alcohol consumption were considered desirable lifestyles, and vice versa.
Healthy lifestyle choices appear to offset the influence of genes on longevity
Participants who lived an “unfavorable” lifestyle were more likely to die earlier than those who lived an advantageous lifestyle, regardless of whether they carried genes associated with short life spans78 %it was high.
The study also found that people genetically predisposed to short lives were 21% more likely to die prematurely than those predisposed to long lives, even if they made favorable lifestyle choices. At the same time, a healthy lifestyle appears to offset the effects of genes associated with shorter lifespans by 62%.
Despite having genes associated with shorter lifespans, making favorable lifestyle choices was associated with living 5.22 years longer than those who made unfavorable choices.
Dr Liz Williams, a lecturer in human nutrition and a member of the Healthspan Research Institute at the University of Sheffield, who was not involved in the study, said she was impressed by the study's finding of a link with longevity. told Business Insider he wasn't surprised. , genetics, and lifestyle factors. However, she said the influence of lifestyle factors in the study was noteworthy because it suggests that although genes cannot be changed, healthy habits may lessen the impact.
You can live longer if you quit smoking, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and eat a healthy diet
Researchers believe that smoking cessation, regular exercise, seven to eight hours of sleep each night, and a healthy diet form what they call an “optimal lifestyle combination” that is sustainable over the long term and helps you live longer. He claimed that it seemed to help.
In this study, adequate exercise was defined according to American Heart Association guidelines as 150 minutes per week of moderate activity such as walking, gardening, or tennis, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity such as hiking, swimming, or yard work. . A balanced diet containing adequate amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish, and small amounts of red and processed meat was considered healthy.
The researchers did not include a healthy body shape, with a BMI of 18.5 to 30, or reducing alcohol intake as part of the “optimal lifestyle combination.” However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says obesity is associated with the leading cause of death, and drinking too much alcohol can shorten your life by an average of 24 years.
Williams said alcohol intake and body shape “are definitely still important” for longevity.
It's also important to note that this study was observational, meaning the researchers could not prove that the lifestyle changes improved the participants' longevity. Additionally, because the study was conducted only among people of European descent, the same association may not apply to other populations, Williams said.