A new study from Oxford Population Health has revealed that lifestyle choices and environmental factors have a much bigger impact on health and ageing than our genes.
The research, published in Nature Medicine, analyzed data from nearly half a million UK Biobank participants to explore how different factors influence ageing, disease, and premature death.
Key findings:
- Environmental and lifestyle factors explained 17% of the variation in death risk, while genetics accounted for less than 2%.
- Smoking, socioeconomic status, physical activity, and living conditions were the most influential factors in determining health outcomes.
- Smoking was linked to 21 diseases, while socioeconomic factors like income and employment status were linked to 19 diseases. Physical activity played a role in 17 diseases.
- 23 out of 25 identified factors are modifiable, meaning people can take action to improve their health.
- Early life factors, such as childhood weight and exposure to maternal smoking, influenced health 30 to 80 years later.
- Environmental factors had a strong effect on lung, heart, and liver diseases, whereas genetic factors were more influential for dementia and breast cancer.
Professor Cornelia van Duijn, senior author of the study, emphasized that many health risks can be reduced by improving socioeconomic conditions, reducing smoking, and increasing physical activity.
She highlighted that while genes play a role in brain diseases and some cancers, lifestyle choices have a huge impact on chronic diseases like heart and lung conditions, which are among the leading causes of death worldwide.
To measure ageing, researchers developed an innovative biological tool that tracks blood protein levels to determine how fast people are ageing.
This method was tested not only in the UK Biobank but also in large studies from China and Finland. It helped researchers identify environmental factors that speed up ageing and increase the risk of early death.
Dr. Austin Argentieri, lead author of the study, explained that this research provides the most comprehensive understanding so far of how environment and genetics influence ageing.
He believes these insights can guide future health policies to prevent age-related diseases and premature death.
Professor Bryan Williams from the British Heart Foundation added that income, living conditions, and background should not determine life expectancy. He urged governments to take bold action to address social inequalities that lead to poor health outcomes.
This study highlights the combined impact of multiple lifestyle and environmental factors on ageing and disease. Unlike traditional studies that focus on single risk factors, this research took a broader approach to identify the biggest contributors to premature death.
Professor van Duijn stressed the importance of ongoing research to explore the effects of diet, new diseases, and environmental exposures like pesticides and plastics. She emphasized that using advanced technology to monitor lifestyle and biological data will be key to understanding health risks in an ever-changing world.
The study was conducted by researchers from Oxford Population Health, in collaboration with institutions in the UK, the US, the Netherlands, and France.
Their findings highlight the huge potential for people to improve their health by making lifestyle changes, regardless of their genetic background.
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