A British study confirms that healthy habits can prolong life, even with genetic predispositions

A British study confirms that healthy habits can prolong life, even with genetic predispositions

In a recent study published inBMJ Evidence-based medicineResearchers examined the connections between lifestyle, genetic factors and human longevity.

background

Hereditary and non-hereditary variables, such as: B. Lifestyle activities influence human lifespan. The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene and the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), nicotinic acetylcholine receptor 3/5 (CHRNA 3/5), lipoprotein A (LPA), and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors 2B antisense RNA 1 (CDKN2B-AS1) loci are related to longevity.

Excessive alcohol consumption, chronic tobacco use, prolonged physical inactivity and unhealthy eating habits contribute to premature mortality.

Studies have found negative associations between obesity, smoking, susceptibility to coronary heart disease and longer lifespan.

A health-conscious lifestyle can reduce genetic susceptibility to a shortened lifespan; However, further research could clarify the combined effects of genetic variables and lifestyle choices.

About the study

In the present longitudinal cohort study, researchers examined the influence of lifestyle and genetic factors on human longevity.

The team analyzed data from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the United Kingdom Biobank, and LifeGen to calculate polygenic risk scores (PRS) for genetic susceptibilities related to human longevity, assess the effects of lifestyle habits, and examine common associations of genetic determinants and Lifestyle variables associated with human longevity.

Lifestyle variables included alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity, diet, sleep duration, and body shape.

The study included 353,742 European adults recruited between 2006 and 2010 and followed up until 2021. Study exposure included the top quintile longevity PRS and the Healthy Lifestyle Score (HLS).

Non-smoking, regular exercise, moderate alcohol consumption, nutritious diet, healthy body shape and adequate sleep indicate a healthy lifestyle. Researchers determined lifespan, the primary endpoint, based on date of death or overall age at baseline and follow-up.

The researchers derived the PRS using independent heritable variants associated with lifespan as captured by LifeGen data, with no linkage disequilibrium. They determined the PRS for individuals from UK biobanks using the weighted sum of life-shortening alleles for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) multiplied by their effect sizes on longevity.

The team performed Cox proportional hazards regression modeling using NHANES data to determine hazard ratios (HR) for the influence of lifestyle factors on lifespan and applied the results to UK Biobank data to calculate the weighted HLS.

They used multivariate logistic regressions to determine the relationships between PRS and lifestyle factors, controlling for age, gender, education level, and socioeconomic status.

Researchers analyzed death certificates in the U.S. NHANES and the U.K. Biobank and censored survivor lifespan data as of December 31, 2021, excluding deaths related to injuries, accidents, or coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) linked death certificates to December 31, 2019.

Results

Among the 353,742 Europeans followed for 13 years (median), 24,239 deaths occurred. The researchers grouped participants into the short (20%), medium (60%) and long (20%) lifespan groups by their genetically estimated lifespan and into the unfavorable (21%), medium (56%) and favorable lifespan (23%) lifestyle groups by HLS.

High genetic risk was associated with a 21% higher chance of mortality than low genetic risk, regardless of living conditions.

Genetic and behavioral variables showed independent relationships with longevity. Individuals with a genetic predisposition to a short life expectancy (high PRS) had a mortality rate (HR) 1.2 higher than those with a longer life expectancy.
People with an unfavorable lifestyle (low HLS) had a 1.8 times higher risk of death than people with a favorable lifestyle. Individuals with lower life expectancy and unfavorable lifestyle had a mortality rate 2.0 times higher than those with higher life expectancy and favorable lifestyle.

The researchers found no multiplicative interactions between PRS and HLS. The best combination for a healthy lifestyle is regular exercise, healthy eating habits, non-smoking and adequate sleep, which reduces the risk of premature mortality (death before the age of 75).

Individuals with a genetic predisposition to a longer lifespan and a favorable lifestyle had a life expectancy of 53 years at age 40, compared to 46 years for those with a genetic predisposition to a short lifespan and an unfavorable lifestyle. The ideal lifestyles for longevity include frequent exercise, not smoking, good nutrition, and adequate sleep.

The study results showed that a healthy lifestyle can significantly minimize the hereditary risk of shortened life expectancy or premature death. High hereditary risk was associated with a 21% higher risk of death, but an unhealthy lifestyle was associated with a 78% higher risk.

Healthy lifestyle habits can reduce the risk of inheritance by 62%. Participants with a genetic predisposition to short life expectancy and an unhealthy lifestyle had a 2.04 times higher risk of death.

A healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce the death toll among people with shorter life expectancies. Future research should include non-European participants to improve generalizability.

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