It is estimated that 16% of life expectancy is related to hereditary factors. At the same time, it is known that lifestyle, such as alcohol and tobacco consumption, diet and physical activity can affect lifespan. Until now, however, it was not known whether and to what extent having healthy habits can compensate for the role of genetics.
A new study, in which more than 350,000 people participated, classified on the basis of genetic profile and lifestyle, tried to answer this question.
The first finding of the researchers is that the impact of habits on life expectancy is more difficult to bear than that of genetics: people with an unhealthy lifestyle had a 78% higher risk of premature death than those with a healthy lifestyle.
On the other hand, it was found that genetics has a weight of only 21%. When the two factors combine, the risk of premature death skyrockets, even doubling.
Things change, however, if those with a negative genetic profile decide to follow a healthy lifestyle. In this case, the risk is reduced by 54%, which, translated into years, is equivalent to 5.2 years of life gained.
The study confirms that “adopting a healthy lifestyle could significantly compensate for the genetic risk of a shorter life span”, write the researchers in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine cited by ANSA.
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