How our surroundings shape our longevity
Recent research from Oxford University has provided valuable insights into the relationship between our environment and how we age. Utilising the UK Biobank, this comprehensive study of nearly half a million people has quantified how our surroundings and lifestyle choices influence our lifespan and risk and incidence of disease, often more so than our genetic makeup.
The scientists examined what they term the "exposome" – the total set of environmental exposures throughout our lives. They found that these factors explain approximately 17% of the variation in premature mortality, whilst genetics explained just 2%.
The research identified 25 key environmental factors independently linked to earlier death and biological ageing. Smoking emerged as one of the most harmful exposures, whilst socioeconomic status was shown to play a significant role, with factors such as household income, employment status and housing situation strongly influencing the ageing processes (with higher income, being empolyed and owning your own home having the best health outcomes).
Physical activity also proved particularly protective, with those reporting regular exercise showing lower biological age markers. Sleep quality and duration were similarly important, with poor sleep patterns and "frequency of feeling tired" accelerating the ageing process. Living with a partner, as opposed to living alone or with other non-partners, was also found to be protective.
The study found that childhood experiences continue to influence health decades later. Being relatively plumper at age 10 and exposure to maternal smoking around birth, for example, showed lasting negative effects into adulthood.
The research noted that ethnic minorities in the UK (those of Asian, Black or other ethnic backgrounds) generally showed lower mortality risk compared to white participants, even after accounting for socioeconomic differences. This finding suggests potential protective cultural or lifestyle factors that merit further investigation.
The influence of environmental factors varied across different diseases. For conditions like lung cancer, emphysema, liver diseases and rheumatoid arthritis, environmental factors played the dominant role. By contrast, genetic risk was more influential for breast and prostate cancers, Alzheimer's disease, dementia and macular degeneration.
The study involved collaborators from Oxford University including the Nuffield Department of Population Health and the Department of Psychiatry and other European institutions. Their work appears in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine.
Professor Cornelia van Duijn, one of the study authors, explains: "Our findings suggest that environment-focused interventions are possibly the most strategic starting point for reducing premature mortality and most age-related illnesses."
These findings underscore the importance of our environment and lifestyle choices in influencing the ageing process. While we cannot change our genetics, the research highlights how modifications to our environment – from increasing physical activity to improving sleep habits – may help extend healthy lifespan.
This study is important because it confirms the growing evidence that healthy ageing is correlated with, and probably caused by, substantially more factors over which the patient themselves can take control, than those like genetic inheritance or low quality nurture, though these are still not negligible. The OLP identifies three classes of such factors: mind-set, life-style and environment, probably in that order, as most significant for healthy longevity. In short, we recommend a positive attitude to life ('choose a life, and love the life you choose'), a close loving relationship with family and friends (look for new ones as the old ones grow older and fewer), regular exercise (ditch the car, and walk a mile a day), a vegan-ish diet (plant based, avoiding shop-bought processed foods, meat, sugar and alcohol - and, of course, no smoking!); and an environmental review to reduce exposure to dangerous toxins and improve the quality of the ambient air, water supply and power used in the home. We regret that this study hardly mentions mind-set, and emphasises socio-economic status as a cause of unhealthy ageing: our own view is that it is not causative, but rather an effect of living an 'irresponsible life'. The first step for those seeking to improve their lives (at any age - after childhood, where one should learn the skills required in adult life) is to take full responsibility for one's own health, wealth (and, indeed, happiness), while at the same time, maintaining a good working relationship with the doctor and the NHS., for example, by attending regular consultations, and arranging blood-tests, scans, and inoculations, as appropriate or required.
- Sir Christopher Ball, Co-Founder of the Oxford Longevity Project, Patient, Poet, Athlete, Educator
The Oxford study demonstrates that individuals have much more power to influence their healthspan and longevity than they think. It also shows that genetics plays a very small role in the vast majority of fatal diseases and chronic illness than we have been led to believe.As a patient advocate, I encourage everyone to invest in their future health in the same way they would their pension: with small and steady commitments to healthy diet, movement, better sleep and social connection.
-Leslie Kenny, Co-Founder of the Oxford Longevity Project and Founder and CEO of Oxford Healthspan
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Author: Katsume Stoneham
