Study Finds Lifestyle Factors Far Outweigh Genetics in Premature Death Risk

Research analyzing 500,000 individuals reveals environmental and social factors are nearly 10 times more influential than genetic risks.

The study, published in Nature Medicine, examined data from the UK Biobank, which includes medical and genetic information from approximately 500,000 participants.
Lifestyle and environmental factors, collectively termed the 'exposome,' were found to play a significantly larger role in premature mortality than genetic predispositions.
Key factors influencing longevity include wealth proxies like education level, gym usage, and household income, highlighting the role of socioeconomic status.
Childhood conditions, such as maternal smoking during pregnancy and early-life body weight, were also linked to cellular aging and later-life health outcomes.
Experts emphasize the need for policy action to address environmental and social determinants of health, which could substantially improve population-wide aging and longevity.