Analysis of results from several large longitudinal studies published in the journal BMJ Evidence-based medicine This shows how people cheat on health risks that occur within their families.
Although genes and lifestyle appear to have additive effects on a person's lifespan, an unhealthy lifestyle is independently associated with a 78% increased risk of premature death, regardless of genetic predisposition. The results of a study led by Professor Xifeng Wu and Dr. Xue Li were announced. This was announced by Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou, China.
Polygenic risk scores (PRS) combine multiple genetic variations to arrive at a person's overall genetic predisposition to a longer or shorter lifespan.
Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol intake, diet quality, sleep duration, and physical activity level are important factors.
However, it is not clear to what extent a healthy lifestyle can offset genetic predisposition to shorter lifespans, the researchers said.
To investigate this further, they used a total of 353,742 adults who were recruited to UK Biobank between 2006 and 2010 and whose health status was followed until 2021.
PRS were derived for long-term (20% of participants), intermediate-term (60%), and short-term (20%) lifespan risks using data from the LifeGen Cohort Study.
During an average follow-up period of approximately 13 years, 24,239 participants died.
People genetically predisposed to short lives were 21% more likely to die prematurely than those genetically predisposed to long lives, regardless of their lifestyle.
Similarly, regardless of genetic predisposition, people with unfavorable lifestyles were 78% more likely to die prematurely than those with favorable lifestyles.
Four factors in particular seem to make up the optimal lifestyle combination. Regular physical activity. Adequate sleep at night. and a healthy diet.
Because this is an observational study, definitive conclusions about cause and effect cannot be reached, and the researchers acknowledge that their findings have various limitations.
People at high genetic risk for shortened lifespans may increase their life expectancy by nearly 5.5 years at age 40 by adopting a healthy lifestyle, researchers suggest.