In the revelation challenging common assumptions about aging and mortality, new research shows that environmental factors such as smoking, physical exercise and living conditions have a much greater impact on life span than genetic predispositions. The study, published in Natural Medicine, found that environmental factors explain 17% of the difference in mortality risk, while genetic factors account for 2%.
The researchers analyzed data from nearly 500,000 UK biobank participants and examined 164 environmental factors and genetic risk scores for 22 major diseases. The study, led by researchers at Oxford Population Health, represents the most comprehensive survey to date on how lifestyle and environmental factors affect aging and premature death.
Key environmental drivers of aging
The team identified 25 independent environmental factors that significantly affect mortality and biological aging, of which 23 were potentially modified. Smoking is the most important risk factor, and is associated with 21 different diseases. Socioeconomic factors, including family income and home ownership, are associated with 19 diseases, while physical activity affects 17 diseases.
“Our research demonstrates the far-reaching health effects of exposure that can be changed by individuals or through policies that improve socioeconomic conditions, reduce smoking or promote physical exercise,” said Professor Cornelia van Duijn, senior author of the paper and Professor of Holy Cross. . Epidemiology of Oxford Population Wasteland.
Early life impact
Perhaps the most striking is the discovery about early life exposure. The study shows that weight at 10 years of age can affect pregnancy aging and mortality risks after 30-80 years. This suggests that environmental factors are beginning to accelerate early aging in life, although there are still sufficient opportunities for prevention.
Disease-specific patterns
The study found interesting changes in how environmental and genetic factors influence different diseases. Environmental exposure has a stronger impact on lung, heart and liver diseases, while genetic risks are dominated by diseases such as dementia and breast cancer.
“Your income, postal code and background should not determine your chances of living a healthy long-term life,” noted Professor Bryan Williams, chief science and medicine officer at the Heart Foundation in the UK, noting that he was not involved in the research. “But this groundbreaking study reinforces the reality that this is too many people.”
New research methods
The study uses an innovative “aging clock” that uses blood protein levels to monitor aging rates. The measurement tool has been previously demonstrated in studies in China and Finland, allowing researchers to correlate environmental exposures that predict early mortality with biological aging processes.
The study’s lead author Dr. Austin Argentieri, PhD, highlighted the importance of their comprehensive approach: “Our advocacy approach enables us to quantify the relative contribution of environmental and genetics to aging, thus providing environmental and lifestyle factors with environmental and lifestyle factors. The most comprehensive overview of driving aging and premature death.”
What is the future
Although various environmental factors may play a relatively small role in determining lifespan, their combined effects are substantial. This suggests that a comprehensive strategy to address multiple environmental factors can significantly improve population health outcomes.
These findings lay the foundation for more targeted public health interventions and policy changes. They also highlight the potential of individuals to influence individual aging trajectories through lifestyle modifications, regardless of genetic susceptibility.
The study was conducted by researchers at Oxford Population Health and Oxford University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Broad Institute, University of Amsterdam, University of Rotterdam and University of Montpellier.
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