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The Secret of Longevity: Lifestyle is More Important than Genes

Surprise! Lifestyle surpasses genes in health and aging, reveals study with half a million people. Goodbye, dementia and heart problems!...
Author: Patricia Alegsa
20-02-2025 10:14







  1. The Unraveled Mystery of Health and Aging
  2. Beyond Genes: The Environment as the Protagonist
  3. The exposome: a revolutionary concept
  4. Action: the key to preventing diseases

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The Unraveled Mystery of Health and Aging



Have you ever wondered why some people seem to defy the passage of time while others struggle with age-related illnesses? It's not just about genetics, although we know that our genes have a significant influence on us.

An international team of scientists has launched a revealing study that could change our perspective on aging.

This study analyzed data from half a million people and scrutinized the crucial role that socio-environmental factors play in the development of diseases such as dementia and heart conditions.


Beyond Genes: The Environment as the Protagonist



Scientists have always known that the environment has an impact on our health, but this study makes it crystal clear. And what a wealth of data, almost an ocean! It was found that factors such as smoking, physical activity, and living conditions have a more significant impact on our health than genes themselves.

Surprised? Not me, considering that genetics explained less than 2% of the risk of death compared to the 17% attributed to lifestyle and other environmental factors.

Professor Cornelia van Duijn, an authority in epidemiology, highlighted how these exposures can be modified, either at the individual level or through government policies. This means we are not entirely at the mercy of our genes. Great news for those who think that changing habits doesn't help!


The exposome: a revolutionary concept



Here comes a word that will make you sound like an expert at the next dinner: exposome. If you didn't know it yet, it refers to all the environmental exposures we have been subjected to since we were born.

This study used an exposome approach to quantify how the environment and genetics contribute to aging.

Can you imagine a clock that measures how quickly we age? Well, scientists employed an "aging clock" based on blood protein levels.

This clock allowed linking environmental exposures with biological aging and early mortality. It's like science fiction, but in real life!


Action: the key to preventing diseases



Professor Bryan Williams reminds us that income and environment should not dictate who lives longer and better. However, the reality is that for many, it does.

The study confirms that interventions focused on our socioeconomic contexts and behaviors can prevent many age-related diseases. This sounds like a golden opportunity to improve our overall health, don’t you think?

But be careful, as Professor Felicity Gavins rightly points out, we need more research to confirm these relationships and turn them into effective policies. Science does not stop, and neither should we.

In summary, while some risk factors are inevitable, we have the power to change our environment and habits to live longer and healthier lives. So, dear reader, what changes do you consider making in your life after learning about these findings?



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I am Alegsa

I have been writing horoscope and self-help articles professionally for over 20 years.

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