New Research Suggests That Adopting A Healthy Lifestyle May Reduce The Impact Of Life-Shortening Genes By Over 60%
It’s well-known that personal genetics, or the genes we inherit from our parents, play a large role in lifespan. But, a recent genetic study suggests that adopting a healthy lifestyle might reduce the impact of life-shortening genes by over 60%.
So, although genes can influence lifespan and the risk of chronic illnesses, the research team said that an unhealthy lifestyle independently raises the risk of premature death by 78%, regardless of genetic predisposition.
Polygenic risk scores help provide a number that summarizes disease risk due to an individual’s genes. So, it assesses numerous genetic variations to determine a person’s overall genetic inclination toward a longer or shorter lifespan.
In addition to these genetic markers, factors such as alcohol consumption, tobacco use, sleep, physical activity, and diet all play crucial roles in determining lifespan.
However, scientists were still unsure of how effectively a healthy lifestyle could counteract genetic factors that potentially reduce an individual’s lifespan.
To investigate this, the research team analyzed data from 353,742 adults who were enrolled in the UK Biobank from 2006 to 2010. The health of each participant was also tracked until 2021.
This, as well as data from the LifeGen cohort study, helped generate polygenic risk scores categorizing the participants into three groups. Approximately 20% were added to the long lifespan group; meanwhile, 60% were considered intermediate, and 20% were considered short.
Additionally, the research team developed a weighted healthy lifestyle score incorporating factors such as moderate alcohol intake, non-smoking, healthy body shape, regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and a balanced diet.
Based on data from the U.S. NHANES study, 23% of participants were classified into favorable lifestyle categories; meanwhile, 56% were intermediate, and 22% were unfavorable.
Song_about_summer – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual people
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A total of 24,239 participants passed away over an average monitoring period spanning nearly 13 years. Individuals who were genetically inclined towards a shorter lifespan faced a 21% higher likelihood of premature death compared to those predisposed to a longer life, regardless of their lifestyle habits.
Furthermore, the findings revealed that individuals with unfavorable lifestyles had a 78% higher risk of premature mortality than those with favorable lifestyles, irrespective of genetic factors.
Those with a high genetic risk of a shorter lifespan combined with an unfavorable lifestyle were twice as likely to die prematurely compared to those genetically included towards living a longer life with a favorable lifestyle.
So, the researchers emphasized how refraining from smoking, engaging in regular physical activity, getting a good night’s sleep, and maintaining a healthy diet were key components of a favorable lifestyle.
Now, as an observational study, the team couldn’t establish a direct causative link between healthy lifestyle habits and life expectancy. Nonetheless, the genetic analysis demonstrates a notable correlation.
A second constraint of the study was its assessment of participants’ lifestyles at a single time point, potentially skewing results as lifestyle choices typically evolve over time. Moreover, the participants were exclusively of European descent, limiting the generalizability of the findings to other populations.
Despite these limitations, the researchers still argue that their findings suggest adopting a healthier lifestyle could mitigate the genetic risk of a shorter lifespan or premature death.
“This study elucidates the pivotal role of a healthy lifestyle in mitigating the impact of genetic factors on lifespan reduction,” the team concluded.
“Public health policies for improving healthy lifestyles would serve as potent complements to conventional healthcare and mitigate the influence of genetic factors on human lifespan.”
To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, visit the link here.
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