They matter the most.
Researchers have been working for years to understand the aging process and how it can be influenced to help people live longer and healthier lives. Various studies have shown that aging is affected by a range of factors, including biological processes, genetics, chronic illnesses, mental health, environmental influences, and lifestyle habits such as diet and exercise. A recent study analyzed medical data from almost half a million participants in the UK Biobank to examine the effects of 164 lifestyle and environmental factors on aging, age-related diseases, and early death.
Austin Argentieri, PhD, a research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital and lead author of the study, explained that while previous genetic research suggested that aging is more influenced by environmental factors than genetic ones, this study was one of the first to explore that hypothesis directly. Researchers used a tool known as an “aging clock” to identify which environmental factors most affected biological aging, rather than simply measuring chronological age. The aging clock uses molecular markers to estimate how a person’s body is aging internally.
Argentieri and his team employed this aging clock to assess which environmental factors were consistently linked to both mortality and biological aging. Their analysis revealed 25 factors—23 of which were considered modifiable—that impacted both lifespan and the aging process. Key factors included smoking, socioeconomic status, physical activity levels, and living conditions, with smoking found to be associated with 21 diseases. Argentieri emphasized that improving these fundamental aspects of life could have a significant impact on health and longevity.
The researchers determined that 17% of the variation in mortality risk could be attributed to environmental factors, while genetic predisposition accounted for less than 2%. This highlights the importance of addressing environmental risks, particularly for diseases affecting the lungs, heart, and liver. The findings suggest that environmental and lifestyle factors are far more significant than genetics in influencing lifespan, offering hope that aging can be shaped through interventions that improve living conditions and health behaviors.
Experts like Dr. Cheng-Han Chen and Dr. Wael Harb also weighed in on the study, emphasizing that these findings underscore the importance of preventive measures to reduce the burden of disease. They pointed out the need for future research to explore other environmental risk factors and develop intervention strategies to help slow biological aging and prevent premature death. Integrating diverse data and testing these findings across different populations could lead to more personalized approaches to public health.
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