In fact, the current general scientific consensus is that a person's lifespan is regulated by both genetic factors (longevity genes) and non-genetic factors (including healthy lifestyles).
A new study from a research team from Zhejiang University published in the international authoritative journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine found that a healthy lifestyle can offset 60% of the effects of short-life genes.
Although there have been many studies on longevity genes and the impact of healthy lifestyles on longevity, it is still unclear to what extent a healthy lifestyle can counteract the effects of short-lived genes if a person does not have longevity genes but is able to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
This is a longitudinal cohort study that included a total of 353742 adults from the UK Biobank, recruited from 2006 to 2010 and followed until 2021, with a median follow-up of 12.86 years, tracking a total of 24,359 deaths.
The participants were divided into three groups based on their genetics: longevity genes (20.1%), medium-life genes (60.1%), and short-life genes (19.8%), and the healthy lifestyle score was based on a number of common life factors, including non-smoking, Controlling alcohol consumption, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy body shape (weight and waist circumference targets), getting enough sleep, and eating a healthy diet were also divided into three groups according to the lifestyle scores: lifestyle conducive to longevity (23.1%), moderate healthy lifestyle (55.6%), and lifestyle unfavorable to longevity (21.3%).
The results of the study showed that people with poor lifestyles had a 78% increased risk of premature death (under the age of 75) compared to those who maintained a healthy lifestyle, regardless of genetic factors!
In terms of genetics alone, people with short-lived genes had a 21% increased risk of premature death compared to those with abnormal longevity genes. If you have a short-lived gene and belong to a bad lifestyle, the risk of premature death is increased by 2.04 times!
After analyzing the combined effects of genes and lifestyle on longevity, the researchers concluded that adhering to a healthy lifestyle can offset the genetic risk of premature death by 62 percent, and that adhering to a healthy lifestyle can reduce the life loss of participants with short-lived genes.
Of the six life factors that were included that may affect longevity, the researchers found that four of them constituted the best lifestyle combination for a healthy and long life: not smoking, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and a healthy diet.
In fact, it is not surprising to come to such a conclusion, if a person can adhere to a healthy diet and regular physical exercise, while also being able to maintain enough sleep, maintain a healthy body, the probability of avoiding obesity will be high, and controlling alcohol consumption itself is also part of a healthy diet, people who can achieve the above 4 aspects of healthy lifestyle maintenance, I believe it will not be difficult to control drinking.
The conclusions of this study are also consistent with those of previous related studies. Previous studies have found that Chinese maintaining a healthy lifestyle after the age of 30 can increase life expectancy by 8.8 years for men and 8.1 years for women, while Americans who adhere to a healthy lifestyle at age 50 have increased life expectancy by 12.2 years for men and up to 14.0 years for women, and Germans who adhere to a healthy lifestyle after age 40 have increased life expectancy by 17 years and 14.9 years for men and women, respectively. In another study, adherence to a healthy lifestyle at age 50 increased life expectancy by 34.4 years for women and 31.1 years for men without diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Another study from the UK Biobank found that poor lifestyle led to a higher risk of cardiovascular death and all-cause mortality, independent of genetic risk scores.
Combined with the above findings, the researchers suggest that both people with short-lived genes and other groups should adhere to a healthy and good lifestyle from the age of 40. Maintain a healthy and regular diet, comprehensively supplement nutrients for the body, reduce the risk of obesity and metabolic abnormalities with controlled intake, maintain adequate sleep, sleep quality, sleep duration, sleep rhythm, and maintain health, adhere to regular physical exercise, combine aerobic exercise with strength training, maintain a good habit of not smoking or quit smoking, these healthy lifestyle maintenance, can reduce the risk of short life caused by genetic factors.
All in all, adhering to a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce the impact of genetic risk on shortened lifespan. According to the analysis of the data of this study, the maintenance of these healthy lifestyles can increase the average life expectancy by nearly 5.5 years, and the maintenance of these healthy lifestyles not only plays a role in prolonging life, but also better protects and improves the quality of life and health status in later life.
Bibliography:
[1] Bian Z, Wang L, Fan R, et al Genetic predisposition, modifiable lifestyles, and their joint effects on human lifespan: evidence from multiple cohort studies. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine Published Online First: 29 April 2024.