Genes play an important role in how long you live

A new study, published in Science, which looks at how twins living apart age, finds that how long you will live is largely dependent on your genes. Contrary to earlier estimates that genes play no more than a 20 to 25 percent role in determining your lifespan, genes are responsible for as much as 50 percent of what your lifespan will be.

The researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel studied twins who were raised apart. They eliminated from their study people who died by accident or infectious disease or fire or homicide and focused on people who died as a result of biological factors.

Of course, we’ve always known the power of genes with regard to so much of our constitution and well-being. We know that no human being lives more than 120 years and that’s because of our genes. Other aspects of our physical being, such as muscle, height and body fat distribution are thought to be at least 50 percent inherited through our genes. So, it should not be surprising that genes are largely responsible for how long we live.

The researchers also found that genes play an outsize role in determining whether we will develop and die from dementia. Our genes are around 70 percent responsible for whether we die of dementia before age 80.

The researchers still don’t know which genes are key to enabling people to live longer lives. Most likely it is a combination of genes that work together to keep some people alive longer than others. The researchers believe it could be hundreds or even thousands of genes. What is clear is that some people have genes that slow down the aging process for them.

A healthy lifestyle also plays a role in people’s lifespan and no one is suggesting otherwise. Even if genes are responsible for 50 percent of a person’s life expectancy, your lifestyle is responsible for the other 50 percent. The researchers conclude that a healthy lifestyle can extend your life as much as five years.

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