New ‘aging clock’ reveals which habits affect longevity most

Scientists found that out of 25 lifestyle and environmental factors, two have the most influence on how we age.

 

New aging clock reveals which lifestyle factors control longevity Counting the candles on your birthday cake is one way to confirm your chronological age, but it can't reveal how quickly your body is actually aging. A new study shows how researchers created a molecular "aging clock" using blood proteins to identify which lifestyle factors influence how we age biologically. By analyzing blood samples from nearly half a million people, researchers measured the impact of 164 different lifestyle choices. From these, they identified 25 specific factors that affect aging at the cellular level and ranked which ones matter most. The findings confirmed what many suspected: Your environment affects aging 10 times more than your genes. Lifestyle elements explained 17% of mortality risk compared to just 2% from genetic factors. Surprisingly, feeling tired and even cheese consumption made the list. Meanwhile, many trendy wellness interventions barely registered. The aging clock also revealed which health concerns respond most to lifestyle measures. Environmental exposures strongly influence heart, lung, and liver health, but genetics still dominate for conditions like dementia and breast cancer. The good news? Of the 25 factors identified, you can modify 23 of them. That gives you considerable control over your biological aging process, regardless of what birth year appears on your driver's license. To learn which factors made the final list, including several everyday daily habits you wouldn't expect, jump to "2 out of 25 lifestyle and environmental factors affect aging the most." Also making headlines this week: Dairy paradox? Why milk benefits gut health while cheese may harm it Too little or too much vitamin B12 may affect cognitive function Weight loss drugs show lower depression risk We love to hear from you, so please email us if you have any feedback, comments, or questions about this weekend's Sunday Supplement. Stay informed and stay healthy! Tim Snaith Newsletter Editor, Medical News Today

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