Your Habits and Environment May Accelerate Aging More Than Your Genes

A UK Biobank study of about 500,000 people found that lifestyle and environmental factors drive biological aging far more than genetics, with environmental influences explaining roughly 17% of death risk versus under 2% for genetic risk. Key environmental contributors include income, socioeconomic status, home ownership, employment, and cohabitation, while major lifestyle factors are smoking, physical activity, and sleep (diet was not reliably assessed). Genetics still matter for certain diseases, but aging varies more with daily life and environment overall. To potentially slow aging, experts suggest 7+ hours of sleep, a plant-forward diet, maintaining a healthy weight, at least 150 minutes of exercise per week, limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking, using sunscreen, good oral hygiene, and managing stress.