WEB DESK: The long-standing debate over what determines human longevity has taken a significant turn, with new scientific research suggesting that genetics play a far more dominant role than earlier estimates indicated. A landmark study published in the prestigious journal Science concludes that genetic factors are twice as influential in determining a person’s lifespan as previously believed.
Scientists have long grappled with the balance between nature and nurture—how much of our lifespan is written in our DNA versus shaped by our lifestyle choices. This new research clarifies that approximately 55 percent of an individual’s lifespan is genetically predetermined. The remaining 45 percent is subject to environmental and lifestyle factors.
A key reason past studies underestimated genetic influence, researchers explain, is their reliance on data from individuals born before the 19th century. In that era, lives were frequently cut short by epidemics, accidents, and a lack of modern medical advances like vaccines, which masked the underlying power of inherited genetics.
The study identifies that the genetic secret to longevity is not controlled by a single “age gene,” but involves complex biological pathways influencing traits like cholesterol levels and osteoporosis risk.
However, researchers emphasize that genes are not destiny. Lifestyle choices encompassing diet, exercise, and social relationships exert a powerful influence within the genetic framework, potentially adding or subtracting about five years from a person’s predetermined lifespan.
“For example, if your genetic blueprint sets a baseline of 80 years, healthy habits could extend it to 85, while harmful ones could reduce it to 75,” explained a researcher. “But these habits cannot override genetics entirely; they cannot push a genetically determined 80-year lifespan to 100.”
The findings redefine the pursuit of a long life, confirming that while healthy living is crucial for reaching our genetic potential, the ultimate ceiling is set by our DNA.
