Aging Is In The Genes - Or Is It?

It’s true that genes are important in the aging process but aren’t the whole story. Public health advances like sanitation and routine vaccination have greatly improved the likelihood for long life. Just because they had genes that protected them against infectus diseases prevalent in the early 20th century. Tomorrow’s centenarians may need to have a different sort of genetic advantage attuned to 21st century conditions. It may well be the intersection of genes with changing health conditions that really influences how long we live may have more to do with diet and other lifestyle choices.
It’s not a centenarian study, but a large, long-term study of Seventh-Day Adventists in California has produced some useful informa­tion about longevity because the Adventists live several years longer, on average, than their fellow Californians. By some calculations, they even outlive the Okinawans. There is no reason to believe the Adventists have any special genes, so other factors probably explain their longevity. Researchers analysed their health habits in a statistical analysis published in the July 9, 2001, Archives of Internal Medicine. A great deal of physical activity, frequent consumption of nuts, not eating meat, and medium body weight each account for longer lifespans.