Is Longevity Inherited? New Study Says Yes — Up to 50%

Our parents often reminisce about how the generation before them lived up to 90, 100 and so on. However, in today’s age, lifespan seems to have shortened. Blame it on stress, bad lifestyle choices, etc. But what if we tell you that if your grandparents lived till 90, chances are you also might do so? This is because a new study suggests that our lifespan depends 50% on our genes. The findings of this study have been published in the journal Science. Let us take a deeper look at this.

To get a better understanding of this from an expert lens, we reached out to Dr Brunda MS, Sr Consultant - Internal Medicine, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore.

What Percentage Of Lifespan Is Genetic?

Have you ever wondered whether you will live as long as your grandparents or not? Our expert shares how lifespan and genes are related.

“Studies suggest that genes influence only about 20 to 30 percent of a person’s lifespan, not 50 percent as commonly believed. This means genetics play a role in how long we live, but they are not the main deciding factor. The remaining 70 to 80 percent of lifespan is shaped by lifestyle and environmental factors, such as diet, physical activity, sleep habits, stress levels, healthcare access, and social connections,” explains Dr Brunda MS.

The expert adds, “Even people with a family history of long or short life can significantly influence their own lifespan through healthy daily choices. These findings highlight that while we cannot change our genes, we have strong control over how we age and how long we live.”

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Expert View On The Study

A lot has been said and done about longevity. As mentioned above, this study gives 50 percent credit to genetics, when it comes to one’s lifespan. We ask our expert to share her view on this.

“The idea that 50 percent of our lifespan is controlled by genes should be viewed with caution. While genes do influence ageing, disease risk, and how our body responds to stress, most research suggests they do not decide everything. Lifestyle factors such as what we eat, how active we are, our sleep routine, stress management, and access to healthcare play a very large role in how long we live,” shares Dr Brunda MS.

She continues, “Even people with strong genetic risks can improve their health outcomes through healthy habits. Genes may set a basic framework, but daily choices and environment largely decide how that potential is used over a lifetime.”

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What Other Factors Decide Your Longevity?

Apart from genes, many everyday factors play a big role in deciding how long a person lives. Dr Brunda MS lists them down for our better understanding:

• Lifestyle habits such as eating a balanced diet, staying physically active, and getting enough sleep strongly affect overall health.
• Managing stress, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol, and maintaining a healthy weight also support longer life.
• Regular health check-ups and early treatment of illnesses can prevent serious complications.
• Mental well-being, strong social connections, and a sense of purpose are equally important for longevity.
• Clean air, safe living conditions, and access to good healthcare further improve life expectancy, showing that long life is shaped mainly by daily choices and environment.

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Can A Healthy Lifestyle Overpower Genetics?

If a person is living a healthy life, but has strong genetic risks, can they extend their lifespan? “Yes, a healthy lifestyle can often overpower genetics when it comes to lifespan. While genes may increase the risk of certain diseases, they do not guarantee that a person will develop them. Healthy habits such as regular exercise, nutritious food, good sleep, and stress control can reduce the impact of genetic risks. Avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol, and managing conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure also protect long-term health,” shares Dr Brund MS.

“Many studies show that people with high genetic risk can still live longer if they follow healthy routines. In most cases, lifestyle choices play a bigger role than genes in deciding how long we live,” she adds.

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Tips To Extend One's Lifespan

Yes, there are several proven ways to extend one’s lifespan. Dr Brunda MS jots them down for us:

• Eating a balanced diet with more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and less processed food helps protect the body.
• Regular physical activity keeps the heart, muscles, and brain healthy.
• Getting enough quality sleep supports repair and immunity.
• Managing stress through relaxation, meditation, or hobbies reduces long-term damage to the body.
• Avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol are very important for a long life.
• Regular health check-ups help detect problems early.

“Strong social relationships, a positive mindset, and staying mentally active also support healthier ageing and a longer life,” concludes Dr Brunda MS.

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The Final Word

A new study suggests that a person’s lifespan depends 50% on genetics. But many experts are of the opinion that one’s lifestyle choices also play a big role, when it comes to longevity. So much so, that a good lifestyle can even beat genes, believes experts. However, more research is needed on this topic.