Oftentimes you are told that your environment and lifestyle choices are the determining factor in how long you live. However, recent research suggests that there is something else that impacts life expectancy more than lifestyle: genetics. As reported by U.S. News, a landmark study published in the journal Science revealed how genetics makes up 55% of a person’s life. Previous studies estimated 6% to 33%. This study focused on the lifespan of twins. Twins were the study subjects of choice in order to isolate heritability. The study also separated deaths by external factors and internal aging. External deaths were classified as accidents, cars, natural disasters, etc, and infections. Internal aging factors were categorized as chronic diseases and natural decline due to age. This research found that if you remove external death from the equation, then your life expectancy is dictated more by DNA than lifestyle choices. While DNA can account for 55% of life expectancy, 45% is still dependent on diet, exercise, and healthy habits. Overall, the 55% dictates your life expectancy, and the 45% helps you reach that expected age.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41610249/
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