Defoes Lifestyle Travel Team

Blog featuring travel tips, packing guides, videos and photography from around the world.

More to Explore

Are you thinking of studying abroad?

The entire family can enjoy themselves on a Little Londoners trip.

The best places in the US for a bachelor party

Getting into the spirit of Vienna, Austria

Your Private Island Resort Destination in the Bahamas

The Top Five Places for a Romantic Honeymoon

The Art of Choosing the Perfect Private Island Retreat

The Ultimate Travel Guide to Costa Rica

What does a vacation that costs a million dollars look like?

Unforgettable Luxury Travel Experiences: A Journey Beyond Imagination

London to Stockholm by sleeper train in one day

Here are the best places in Europe to buy a second home, from luxury city homes to vacation rentals

The world’s ten expensive holiday spots

A new trend in hotels that will actually put you to sleep

Finland: spa treatments at minus 110°!

Indulge in Paradise: Top 5 Luxury Resorts in the Maldives

In Milan, there are celebrity paths to explore

Jetsetter Dreams: Explore the World in Luxury

The ultimate luxury list in Amsterdam

Luxury Wellness Retreats: Rejuvenate Your Mind and Body
Introduction

Healthy Lifestyle May Offset Genetic Impact on Longevity by 62%, Study Finds

A groundbreaking study suggests that adopting a healthy lifestyle could counterbalance the impact of genetics on lifespan, potentially adding as much as five yearPublished in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, the research highlights the crucial role lifestyle factors play in reducing the impact of life-shortening genes.

Key Findings:

The study, involving 353,742 participants from the UK Biobank, revealed that individuals with a high genetic risk of a shorter life face a 21% increased risk of early death compared to those with a low genetic risk, irrespective of lifestyle choices.
Conversely, individuals with unhealthy lifestyles have a 78% higher chance of early death, regardless of their genetic risk profile.
Those with both an unhealthy lifestyle and a predisposition to shorter lifespan genes had a more than doubled risk of premature death compared to those with healthier lifestyles and genetic predispositions.
However, adopting a favourable lifestyle appeared to offer significant benefits, offsetting the genetic risk by approximately 62% and potentially extending life expectancy by around 5.22 years at age 40.

Optimal Lifestyle Combination:

The study identified the “optimal lifestyle combination” for longevity as comprising never smoking, regular physical activity, adequate sleep duration, and a healthy diet.

Implications and Recommendations:

The findings underscore the importance of public health policies aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles, which can serve as powerful complements to conventional healthcare.
Despite genetic predispositions, individuals can exert control over their health outcomes by adopting healthy behaviours, potentially mitigating the influence of genetic factors on lifespan.
Matt Lambert from the World Cancer Research Fund emphasises the significance of these findings, highlighting the role of balanced nutrition and physical activity in prolonging life despite genetic factors.

This study represents a landmark contribution to understanding the interplay between genetics and lifestyle in determining longevity. By emphasising the considerable impact of healthy lifestyle choices, the research offers hope for individuals looking to extend their lifespan and underscores the importance of public health initiatives aimed at promoting healthier behaviours.