Researchers have long sought to understand aging to help people live longer and healthier lives. A recent study looked at the medical data of almost half a million people from the UK Biobank. The goal was to see how 164 lifestyle and environmental factors influence aging, diseases linked to age, and the risk of early death.
Austin Argentieri, PhD, a research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital, helped lead the study. He said, “We knew aging is affected more by environment than by genes.” They used a method called the “aging clock” to understand how these factors affect biological aging.
The aging clock estimates how old your body is at a molecular level, rather than just how long you’ve lived. It measures internal aging, which can be different from your actual age.
A previous study created a proteomic aging clock based on blood proteins. It showed this clock could predict mortality and disease risk, linking it to 18 significant chronic diseases.
In this study, researchers zeroed in on 25 factors linked to lifespan. They focused primarily on lifestyle and environmental factors that are changeable, which means people can take steps to improve their health.
- Cheese consumption
- Ease of skin tanning
- Education years
- Employment status
- Ethnicity
- Frequency of feeling tired
- Gym use
- History of financial difficulties
- Household income
- Physical activity
- Sleeping hours
- Smoking status
- Type of housing (i.e., house, apartment, mobile home)
- Using an open fire for heating
- Weight and height at 10 years old
Smoking, physical activity, income level, and living conditions were found to be the most significant influences on mortality and biological aging. Smoking alone was connected to 21 diseases.
Argentieri pointed out, “This means that some simple changes in our lives can significantly impact our health and longevity.” The researchers believed that a focus on basic health factors might yield better results than chasing the latest health trends.
The findings revealed that about 17% of the risk of death is linked to environmental factors, while genetics account for less than 2% of risk for 22 major diseases.
Health experts noted that focusing on lifestyle changes is vital. Cheng-Han Chen, MD, emphasized the larger role of environmental factors in disease and early death, underscoring the need for public health interventions.
Wael Harb, MD, pointed out that understanding the effects of modifiable factors is crucial for developing preventive strategies. He suggested future research probing deeper into how these factors impact health and wellness.
In conclusion, this research sends a positive message: aging is not just about genetics. Our environment and lifestyle choices play a significant role in shaping our health as we grow older.
Check out this related article: Exciting News: Genevieve Sarah Loh, Founding Member of CNA Lifestyle, Joins DSTNCT!
Source link