Not Genetics, Study Reveals The Key To Long Life To 100 Years

Illustration of the elderly (Photo: Pexels/Tristan Le)

JAKARTA - Many people long for a long life with a healthy and fit body. But, what is the secret to life to the age of 100 years or over?

Reporting from the Science Alert page, the latest research published in the journal Nature Medicine reveals that longevity is more influenced by lifestyle and the environment than genetic factors. In other words, the choices we make every day have a bigger impact than heredity factors.

The researchers used data from UK Biobank, a large health data in the UK covering about 500 thousand people. This data includes genetic information, medical records, medical imaging, and lifestyle information. Some of these studies also use data from 45 thousand participants whose blood is analyzed with proteomic profiling techniques. This technique examines protein changes in the body over time to estimate biological age, not chronological age.

The researchers analyzed 164 environmental factors, including lifestyle (smoking, physical activity). There are also social factors, namely residential conditions, income, and work status. Then, the initial life factor, namely weight in childhood.

Then, they linked this data to 22 age-related diseases, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, mortality and biological aging.

Environmental factors are found to account for about 17%, while genetics only contribute less than 2%. This shows the environment and lifestyle have a much greater influence than genetics on health and longevity.

The biggest environmental impact can be seen in lung, heart, and liver disease, while genetic factors are more likely to cause breast, ovarian, prostate, and dementia cancer.

Some of the environmental factors that are most influential in shortening life and accelerating aging are smoking, social and economic conditions, lack of physical activity, and residential conditions.

Interestingly, this study found that higher children at the age of 10 tend to have shorter lifetimes. In addition, overweight since childhood and mothers who smoke while pregnant or when a baby is born are also associated with short lives.

Long life is something we can try. By adopting a healthy lifestyle, maintaining mental health, and living in a supportive environment, the chances of living up to 100 years are getting bigger.