Unlocking the Secrets of Longevity: Nature vs. Nurture in the Quest for a Longer Life

When Dr. Nir Barzilai encountered the centenarian Helen Reichert, she was puffing on a cigarette. Dr. Barzilai, the head of the Institute for Aging Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, remembered Mrs. Reichert mentioning that physicians had consistently advised her to quit. However, Mrs. Reichert pointed out that all those doctors had passed away, but she had not. She lived nearly another ten years before passing in 2011.

Numerous accounts exist of individuals who reach the age of 100, and their everyday routines often contradict standard recommendations regarding diet, exercise, and the use of alcohol and tobacco. Nevertheless, extensive studies indicate that disregarding this guidance can adversely impact the health of most individuals and shorten their lives.

So, how much of one’s lifespan can be determined by lifestyle choices, and how much can be attributed to luck—or fortunate genetics? It varies based on how long you aspire to live.

Studies indicate that reaching 80 or even 90 years old is predominantly within our influence. “There is very compelling evidence that for the general populace, maintaining a healthy lifestyle” does indeed prolong life expectancy, said Dr. Sofiya Milman, a medical and genetics professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

A recent study released last year, which examined the lifestyles of over 276,000 male and female veterans from the United States, discovered that embracing eight healthy habits could potentially add up to 24 years to individuals’ lifespans. These habits included consuming a nutritious diet, engaging in regular physical activity, getting ample sleep, managing stress effectively, fostering solid relationships, and avoiding smoking, opioid misuse, or excessive drinking.

Should the veterans adhere to all eight recommendations, the researchers estimated that they could anticipate living to approximately 87 years old. To most individuals, that likely sounds quite appealing; after all, it’s nearly ten years longer than the average life expectancy in the U.S. However, for Dr. Milman, who did not participate in the study, the findings indicated that “even if you do everything correctly,” one can’t necessarily expect to live to 100.

If your goal is to achieve centenarian status, you’ll need a bit of assistance from your lineage. Because as individuals age, genetics seem to take on greater significance.

In general, scientists believe that about 25 percent of our longevity is linked to our genetic makeup, while 75 percent pertains to our surroundings and lifestyle choices. Yet, as people approach the century mark and beyond, those figures begin to shift, remarked Dr. Thomas Perls, a medicine professor at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine at Boston University.

Indeed, research has shown that many individuals who live exceptionally long lives do not necessarily lead healthier lifestyles than the average American. Nonetheless, they tend to live longer and exhibit lower incidences of age-related illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer, and dementia.

In the Long Life Family Study, for example, “We have families where smoking is common; we have families where they don’t engage in physical activity,” stated Michael Province, a professor of genetics and biostatistics at the Washington University School of Medicine, who leads the study alongside Dr. Perls.

However, these families also tend to possess certain unique gene variants that experts believe assist them in evading diseases and extending their lifespans.

Certain genes may influence an individual’s chances of developing specific health issues. For instance, the APOE gene is acknowledged for affecting the risk of Alzheimer’s disease: Those who carry the APOE4 variant face a higher risk, while those with the APOE2 variant have a lower risk. Dr. Province mentioned that families with long lifespans exhibit a greater prevalence of APOE2 compared to the general population.

Other genes seem to impact the aging process itself. One gene that has appeared in several studies focusing on centenarians is referred to as FOXO3, which plays a role in numerous essential aspects of cellular health. Due to the influence of these genes on the biology of aging, it is conceivable that they may confer protection against various age-related diseases, Dr. Milman stated.

A significant advantage of these longevity-related genes may be their ability to counteract unhealthy practices. A study led by Dr. Milman and Dr. Barzilai, which compared the offspring of centenarians to a control population, found that across both groups, individuals with healthy lifestyles had comparably low incidences of cardiovascular disease. Yet, among those with unhealthy lifestyles, descendants of centenarians still exhibited low disease rates, while those in the control group did not.

The specialists highlighted that many of these genes are exceedingly rare, likely existing in less than one percent of the populace. (Not coincidentally, a similarly small percentage of individuals reach the age of 100.) Furthermore, there isn’t a single gene that provides defense against all facets of aging and age-related ailments; it’s more probable that there are numerous genes working together to produce an effect.

Possessing the appropriate collection of genes for longevity is “like winning the lottery,” Dr. Perls remarked. Thus, even if your mother lived to 100, it’s still wise to engage in habits that are known to be beneficial for your health, just in case you didn’t receive the genetic fortune.

And whatever you do, don’t rely on health advice from a centenarian. For them, lifestyle likely didn’t play a significant role, Dr. Barzilai stated. For the rest of us, it is truly essential.