How can we live beyond our life expectancy and what affects longevity more?

Genetics versus Lifestyle

Longevity is a combination of Genetics and Lifestyle. Imagine made with AI

People talking about longevity in retirement are asking frequently which one is affecting the lifespan more : genetics or lifestyle? Before trying to find out, let’s say that longevity refers to living a significantly long life. Not to confuse with Healthspan, which represents the portion of life spent in good health, vitality and functioning optimally. The science of Longevity’s goal is to bridge the gap between lifespan and Healthspan, so people remain healthy later in life.

Longevity means :

• Extending an individual’s Lifespan •Expanding the health of an individual •Controlling and reversing the [hallmarks of aging.](http://Tartiere AG, Freije JMP and López-Otín C (2024) The hallmarks of aging as a conceptual framework for health and longevity research. Front. Aging 5:1334261. doi: 10.3389/fragi.2024.1334261)

How Genetics affects Longevity

[Studies ](http://Brooks-Wilson AR. Genetics of healthy aging and longevity. Hum Genet. 2013 Dec;132(12):1323-38. doi: 10.1007/s00439-013-1342-z. Epub 2013 Aug 8. PMID: 23925498; PMCID: PMC3898394.)have shown that about 25% of longevity is affected by genes inherited from ancestors. The” longevity genes“ housekeep the cell against hallmarks of aging.

These genes are responsible for : •Maintaining the telomeres (ends of chromosomes). •Repairing the DNA. •Protecting the cell against oxidative stress(productive of oxygen species by mitochondria).

The environment has an important role in longevity

Starting with the air quality. During the COVID-19 lockdown in Europe, the overall mortality was decreased by lower air pollutants from vehicles and industry. Latitude is another environmental factor that affects longevity by making the body produce more red blood cells to compensate for the rarefied air. There are a few geographic areas in the world called Blue Zones where people are living longer and with lower risks of chronic disorders.

• The Blue Zones are in Okinawa (Japan) , Ocarina (Greece) , Sardinia (Italia) , Loma Linda (California) and Nicola (Costa Rica).*

Lifestyle choices have been proved to play the most important part in longevity

Lifestyle choices made every day have a powerful effect on health and lifespan: •Eating a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, whole grains and healthy fats has been linked to a lower risk of diseases and longer lifespan. •Regular physical activity has been proved to have the most powerful tools to improve longevity. By moving the body, the heart works more efficiently, gets stronger, the muscles stay active and the metabolism burns more calories. The exercise helps control weight, lower the blood pressure and reduce inflammation. The good news is that there is no need for intensive physical activity or to hire a trainer. Simple walking, cycling or swimming have a positive impact. The most important remains consistency and motivation to exercise. •Sleep plays a key role in long-term health. During sleep, the body repairs itself, the brain improves its function and the immune system gets stronger. •Reducing stress on a daily basis by spending time outdoors, doing physical exercises, talking to friends, practicing yoga and mindfulness have a strong impact on longevity.

How Lifestyle and Genetics work together to improve Longevity

[Epigenetics](http://Hamilton JP. Epigenetics: principles and practice. Dig Dis. 2011;29(2):130-5. doi: 10.1159/000323874. Epub 2011 Jul 5. PMID: 21734376; PMCID: PMC3134032.) , the study of changes in gene expression (turning genes “on“ and “off”) without altering the underlying DNA sequence, explains how Genetics and Lifestyle work together in Healthspan. For example, someone at a high genetic risk for heart disease can improve longevity by eating a cardiac diet and staying physically active under a health care provider.

Conclusions and takeaways

•It is not only about living longer. •Genetics plays a role in how long we live, but they account for a small part of the journey towards a long and healthy life. •Healthy lifestyles like dieting and staying physically active help you live an independent life even if your ancestors did not reach your age. • Both genetics and lifestyle influence how long we are going to live, but for most of us, lifestyle plays a larger role.

Thank you for reading this article.

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