Is a long life genetically determined?

Why do some people easily reach ninety, while others face health problems earlier? For a long time it was thought that genes play the most important role. More and more studies suggest that genetics is only a small part of the story.

How you live, eat, exercise, and deal with stress has at least as much influence on how old you become. These insights form the basis of the growing field of Longevity: the science that studies how we can live not only longer, but above all healthier and with higher quality. Within that same movement, biohacking an increasingly large role. In doing so, people try to actively improve their body and mind through nutrition, technology, and lifestyle, with the goal of slowing down the aging process.

In this article, you’ll discover what science says about the influence of genes and lifestyle on healthy aging, and how you can take control of it yourself.

What is longevity?

Longevity literally means “long life,” but in science it’s mainly about how healthy you spend those years. So it’s not only about getting older, but about staying vital with as few illnesses as possible.

Researchers study which factors contribute to healthy aging. Nutrition, Exercise, sleep and stress management prove to be more important than genes alone. New insights and technological developments also help to better understand and slow down aging.

This ties in with the question of whether a long life is genetically determined. Genes play a role, but longevity shows that with the right choices you yourself have a major influence on how you age. The art is not only to live longer, but above all to live better and with higher quality.

The role of genetics

Genetics is the science that studies how traits from parents are passed on to their children. At its core, it’s about genes: small pieces of DNA that together form the blueprint of your body. These genes determine not only external characteristics such as eye color, hair color, and height, but also how your organs function and how your body responds to diseases. Some genes, for example, can affect your metabolism or immune system, and thus how quickly you age or how high your risk of certain conditions is. ¹ 

Genetics and longevity are connected

Genes play a role in how long and how healthily you live. According to MedlinePlus Genetics, only 20 to 25 percent of our lifespan is determined by genetic factors. So most of it depends on lifestyle and environmental factors, including your eating habits, how much you exercise, how well you sleep, and how you deal with stress.

Researchers have identified a number of genes associated with a longer life, such as APOE, FOXO3, and CETP. These genes play a role in, among other things: 

• Heart health: ensures the heart functions well and blood pressure remains stable.
• Fat metabolism: regulates how fats are stored and converted into energy.
• Cell protection: helps cells recover and protects them against damage from aging and stress.

Yet it turns out that people with favorable variants of these genes do not automatically live longer. Their influence is limited, and lifestyle choices often have a much greater effect on how healthy and vital you become as you age. ²

Lifestyle and genetics work together

The way you live largely determines whether your genes are expressed. Healthy nutrition, enough exercise, and sufficient sleep can activate protective genes, while bad habits can “switch on” harmful genes.

This process is called epigenetics, the field that studies how lifestyle affects the activity of genes. For example, smoking can activate genes that make cancer cells grow, while nutrients from vegetables and fruit stimulate genes that promote cell repair.

As Professor Eline Slagboom of LUMC explains: even with favorable genes, you won’t grow old if you live unhealthily, and with a healthy lifestyle you can partly compensate for less favorable genes. Ultimately, it’s the interaction between genetic predisposition and daily habits that determines how healthily and vitally you age. ³ 

What can you do yourself for more Longevity?

A long and vital life starts with the choices you make every day. Small adjustments can make a big difference in the long run. Below we’ve listed a few handy Longevity tips for you:

• Choose the right foods

Choose unprocessed, plant-based foods rich in fiber, healthy fats, and antioxidants.

• Move every day

Walking, cycling, or dancing helps not only your heart, but also your mood and energy levels.

• Make sure you get good sleep

Recovery begins at night; aim for seven to nine hours per night.

• Limit stress

Relax regularly, breathe deeply, and make time to rest.

• Stay socially active

Contact with others strengthens your mental resilience and well-being.

• Avoid smoking and drink in moderation

Here’s how to protect your heart and cells in the long term.

Anyone who consciously works on their health can give their body extra support with products that fit within the Longevity concept. Enduravita develops supplements, such as NMN, which can support natural energy production and the recovery of your cells. These supplements fit an active and vital lifestyle as a complement to healthy nutrition and exercise.

Sources:

¹ De Veld, D. (2021, December). Is long life in your genes? +Healthy. https://dianadeveld.nl/wordpress/zit-lang-leven-in-de-genen/

² MedlinePlus. (n.d.). Is longevity determined by genetics? U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/traits/longevity/

³ The Makeable Human. (n.d.). Genetics and heredity in a nutshell. https://www.demaakbaremens.org/themas/erfelijkheid/genetica/