Healthy lifestyle can reduce genetic risk of early death by 62%: Study suggests

According to studies, a person's genetics alone can increase their risk of dying young by 21%, but they can still increase their odds.

Published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, the research states that lifestyle choices have a significant impact on longevity, independent of genetic predisposition.

It is commonly known that certain individuals have a genetic predisposition that causes them to live shorter lives. Lifestyle choices, particularly those related to food, exercise, smoking, and alcohol use, can also affect one's longevity.

Studies suggest that a person's genetics alone can increase their risk of dying young by 21%, but they can still increase their odds.

Although there has been little investigation to understand the extent to which a healthy lifestyle may counterbalance genetics. 

Findings from several long-term studies note that a healthy lifestyle could mitigate the effects of life-shortening genes by 62% and add as much as five years to your life.

The study, based on data from over 3,50,000 adults tracked from 2006 to 2021, assessed both genetic risk factors and lifestyle habits. This new research shows that, despite genetic factors, living a healthy lifestyle, including eating a balanced nutritious diet and keeping active, can help us live longer.

While genetics play a role in lifespan, an unhealthy lifestyle substantially increases the risk of premature death, regardless of genetic makeup, this is according to the study. The participants were grouped based on their genetic risks and lifestyle choices.

The data showed that everyone regardless of their genetic risks, was 78% more likely to die early if they had an unhealthy lifestyle. Fortunately, the research concluded that individuals appear to have a degree of control over what happened.

“Participants with high genetic risk could prolong approximately 5.22 years of life expectancy at age 40 with a favourable lifestyle,” read the research.

 The study followed people for 13 years on average, during which time 24,239 deaths occurred. People were grouped into three genetically determined lifespan categories including long (20.1%), intermediate (60.1%) and short (19.8%), and three lifestyle score categories including favourable (23.1%), intermediate (55.6%) and unfavourable (21.3%).

 Because the study was observational, it was only able to identify correlations and not conclusively establish that the behaviours caused the longevity changes.