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A healthy lifestyle effectively protects against premature death, even if those affected actually have an increased risk due to life-shortening genes. Four factors of a healthy lifestyle in particular seem to play an extremely important role.
A new study involving experts from the University of Edinburgh has examined possible links between genetic factors and lifestyle with life expectancy. The results are published in the English-language journal “BMJ Evidence Based Medicine”.
What determines life expectancy?
Both genes and lifestyle have a significant influence on life expectancy, with an unhealthy lifestyle being associated with a 78 percent increased risk of premature death, regardless of genetic predisposition, the researchers report.
However, it is unclear how and whether a healthy lifestyle can compensate for a general genetic predisposition to a shortened life expectancy. To answer this question, the team analyzed data from a total of 353,742 adults who were part of the UK Biobank study.
How was the risk of premature death determined?
Using the so-called polygenic risk score, the experts determined the participants' overall genetic predisposition to a long, medium or short life. During the average observation period of almost 13 years, a total of 24,239 participants died.
What influence does lifestyle have on life expectancy?
The results show that participants with a genetic predisposition to a short life expectancy had a 21 percent higher risk of dying prematurely than participants with a genetic predisposition to a long life expectancy.
In contrast, participants with an unhealthy lifestyle had a 78 percent higher risk of dying prematurely than those with a healthy lifestyle, the researchers added.
Participants who had a high genetic risk for a shortened life expectancy and at the same time had an unfavorable lifestyle had twice the risk of death as those with a genetic predisposition for a long life and a favorable lifestyle, the team adds.
These factors have a massive influence on life expectancy
The researchers identified four factors in particular that appear to form an optimal lifestyle combination: non-smoking, regular physical activity, sufficient sleep at night and a healthy diet.
Among various limitations, experts admit that it was not possible to draw definitive conclusions about cause and effect because it was an observational study.
Balance genetic risk through lifestyle
Nevertheless, the results of the study indicate that a genetic risk of a shorter life expectancy or premature death can be offset by around 62 percent through a healthy lifestyle, the researchers explain in a press release.
For example, people with a high genetic risk of shortened life expectancy could extend their life expectancy by almost 5.5 years at age 40 through a healthy lifestyle, the team explains.
Establish a healthy lifestyle early on
Experts point out that many lifestyle habits become established before middle age. In their opinion, measures that weaken the genetic predisposition to a shortened lifespan should therefore begin earlier. (as)