An analysis of several comprehensive long-term studies led by an international team of scientists has revealed that a healthy lifestyle can counteract the life-shortening effects of certain genes by more than 60 percent.
The findings highlight the combined influence of genetics and lifestyle on longevity, with an unhealthy lifestyle alone increasing the risk of premature death by 78 percent, regardless of genetic background.
Lifestyle factors and lifespan
The study employed a polygenic risk score (PRS) to assess each individual's genetic risk for a shorter or longer lifespan, taking into account multiple genetic variations.
Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol intake, diet quality, sleep duration, and physical activity level also played an important role.
healthy lifestyle and genetics
The researchers aimed to quantify the extent to which a healthy lifestyle may offset the genetic risk of shortening lifespan. They used data from 353,742 adults who enrolled in UK Biobank between 2006 and 2010 and tracked their health status until 2021.
Participants were divided into groups based on the PRS representing long-term (20%), intermediate-term (60%), and short-term (20%) lifespan risks derived from LifeGen Cohort Study data.
A lifestyle score was assigned based on criteria such as non-smoking status, moderate alcohol intake, regular physical activity, healthy body shape, adequate sleep, and nutritious diet. These were categorized as favorable (23% of participants), moderate (56%), and unfavorable (22%) using data from the US NHANES study.
Genetic risks and unhealthy lifestyle
During an average follow-up period of approximately 13 years, 24,239 participants died. The analysis showed that people with a genetic predisposition to a shorter lifespan were 21 percent more likely to die prematurely than those with a genetic predisposition to a longer lifespan, regardless of their lifestyle.
Furthermore, regardless of genetic factors, people with unfavorable lifestyles had a 78% higher risk of premature death than those with favorable lifestyles.
Participants facing both high genetic risk and unfavorable lifestyle were twice as likely to die early compared to participants with low genetic risk and favorable lifestyle. The main components of a beneficial lifestyle include not smoking, regular physical activity, getting enough sleep, and maintaining a healthy diet.
A healthy lifestyle reduces genetic risk
Although this is an observational study with inherent limitations, such as assessing lifestyle at a single point in time and excluding non-European ancestry, the results of this study suggest that favorable lifestyles may inherit shorter lifespans. This suggests that the risk can be effectively reduced by approximately 62%.
Experts say people with a high genetic risk can increase their life expectancy by nearly 5.5 years by the time they reach age 40 by living a healthy lifestyle. They emphasize the importance of establishing healthy habits early in life, considering that lifestyle patterns tend to solidify before middle age.
“This study reveals that a healthy lifestyle plays a vital role in mitigating the influence of genetic factors on shortened lifespan. “Hygiene policies will strongly complement conventional medicine and reduce the influence of genetic factors on human lifespan,” the authors concluded.
Aspects of a healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is centered around habits that enhance your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It usually includes a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains that provide the nutrients and energy you need.
exercise
Regular physical activity, whether it's structured exercise like jogging or informal activity like walking, helps maintain a healthy weight, strengthens your heart, and boosts your mood. Helpful.
sleep
Good sleep is another pillar of a healthy lifestyle, and most adults benefit from getting seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Sleep helps with recovery, cognitive function, and emotional regulation. Managing stress through techniques such as meditation, yoga, or simply spending time with hobbies maintains mental health and reduces the risk of various physical health problems.
healthy habits
It is also important to avoid harmful habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and drug use. Instead, it is a helpful practice to develop positive relationships that support a healthy lifestyle and to regularly seek medical advice to monitor your health and prevent illness.
Overall, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is about making consistent daily choices that have long-term benefits for both your body and mind.
The research will be published in a journal BMJ Evidence-based medicine.
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