Genes May Dictate Longevity, Outranking Healthy Lifestyle Choices, Study Suggests

Israel - Ekhbary News Agency

Genes May Dictate Longevity, Outranking Healthy Lifestyle Choices, Study Suggests

In a potentially paradigm-shifting discovery, new scientific research suggests that our genetic blueprint may be the most significant factor dictating how long we live, potentially overshadowing the impact of even the healthiest lifestyle choices. While it's widely accepted that diet, exercise, and avoiding harmful habits contribute to a longer, healthier life, a recent study published in the prestigious journal *Science* posits that our maximum potential lifespan is largely predetermined by our genes.

The study, led by Uri Alon of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, analyzed extensive data from multiple sources, including Swedish twin studies. Crucially, one pair of twins in the study had been raised separately, allowing researchers to better distinguish between genetic and environmental influences on longevity. To validate their findings and assess their generalizability, the team also examined data from a study of 2,092 siblings of 444 Americans who lived past the age of 100.

The researchers' analysis indicates that aging is, to a large extent, hereditary. This conclusion directly challenges a significant portion of conventional medical knowledge that emphasizes the power of lifestyle interventions in extending life. "While certain habits can add or subtract a few years from one's life expectancy, it is already genetically determined," the study suggests. Essentially, if your genetic potential is to live to, say, 80 years, it is unlikely that any lifestyle choice will enable you to reach 100. This doesn't negate the importance of healthy habits, but it reframes their role primarily as enhancers of life quality rather than extenders of maximum lifespan.

Thomas Perls, a geriatrician and director of the New England Centenarian Study at Boston University, whose data was utilized in the new analysis, commented on the findings. "If you are trying to calibrate your own chances of reaching 100, I would say look at your family's longevity," he advised. Perls, who was not directly involved in the current study, reinforces the idea that family history—a proxy for genetic inheritance—is a critical indicator of potential lifespan.

S. Jay Olshansky, a professor emeritus of epidemiology at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and another expert not involved in the research, described the paper's message as "quite powerful." He employed a vivid analogy to illustrate the concept: "Some of us drive a Mercedes and others a Yugo," he said, referring to the disparity in potential lifespan, much like the difference between a luxury car and an economy model. This highlights that genetic predispositions might set a fundamental limit on how long an individual can live.

The study's conclusions align with existing knowledge in biology regarding other species. Daniela Bakula of the University of Copenhagen, a co-author of an external perspective published alongside the study in *Science*, noted that the lifespan of "all other studied organisms has a strong genetic component." This suggests that the biological mechanisms governing longevity might be conserved across the animal kingdom.

The research employed sophisticated statistical and mathematical models to isolate the genetic contribution to longevity. The methodology aimed to strip away the effects of external mortality factors, such as infections or accidents, that are not intrinsically linked to the aging process itself. Olshansky praised the analysis, stating that this type of modeling is difficult and was "exceptionally well done" in the paper.

The Swedish twin data, encompassing individuals born between 1900 and 1935, provided a unique "natural experiment." This period saw significant improvements in sanitation and healthcare, alongside major global events like World Wars, the Great Depression, and a flu pandemic. By studying twins during a time when external mortality factors were declining, the researchers could better assess the intrinsic influence of genetics. To further test their findings, the team compared their results with lifespan data from Danish twins born between 1870 and 1900, an era marked by high mortality rates from infectious diseases like diphtheria and cholera.

The analysis of specific causes of death within the Swedish cohorts revealed interesting nuances. For instance, the researchers found that while cancer was less likely to be strongly influenced by genetics, conditions like dementia showed a more significant genetic link. Ultimately, the models estimated that genes are responsible for over 50% of the variation in lifespan among individuals. This implies that our genetic inheritance lays a substantial foundation for our potential longevity, with lifestyle acting as a modulator within those genetic boundaries.

This research prompts a reconsideration of our approach to aging and health. While maintaining a healthy lifestyle remains crucial for well-being and enhancing life quality, understanding the profound influence of genetics may pave the way for more personalized medicine and preventative strategies. Future research may focus on genetic predispositions to identify individuals who might benefit most from specific interventions or those whose genetic makeup suggests a naturally longer lifespan, regardless of conventional lifestyle advice.

Ekhbary News Agency