Katharina Buczek
A total of 24,239 participants passed away over an average monitoring period spanning nearly 13 years. Individuals who were genetically inclined towards a shorter lifespan faced a 21% higher likelihood of premature death compared to those predisposed to a longer life, regardless of their lifestyle habits.
Furthermore, the findings revealed that individuals with unfavorable lifestyles had a 78% higher risk of premature mortality than those with favorable lifestyles, irrespective of genetic factors.
Those with a high genetic risk of a shorter lifespan combined with an unfavorable lifestyle were twice as likely to die prematurely compared to those genetically included towards living a longer life with a favorable lifestyle.
So, the researchers emphasized how refraining from smoking, engaging in regular physical activity, getting a good night’s sleep, and maintaining a healthy diet were key components of a favorable lifestyle.
Now, as an observational study, the team couldn’t establish a direct causative link between healthy lifestyle habits and life expectancy. Nonetheless, the genetic analysis demonstrates a notable correlation.
A second constraint of the study was its assessment of participants’ lifestyles at a single time point, potentially skewing results as lifestyle choices typically evolve over time. Moreover, the participants were exclusively of European descent, limiting the generalizability of the findings to other populations.
Despite these limitations, the researchers still argue that their findings suggest adopting a healthier lifestyle could mitigate the genetic risk of a shorter lifespan or premature death.
“This study elucidates the pivotal role of a healthy lifestyle in mitigating the impact of genetic factors on lifespan reduction,” the team concluded.
“Public health policies for improving healthy lifestyles would serve as potent complements to conventional healthcare and mitigate the influence of genetic factors on human lifespan.”
To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, visit the link here.
