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Oxford, UK – February 19, 2025 – A groundbreaking study from Oxford Population Health has revealed that lifestyle and environmental factors have a significantly greater impact on health, aging, and premature death than genetics. The research, published in Nature Medicine, analyzed data from nearly half a million participants in the UK Biobank to assess the effects of 164 environmental factors and genetic predispositions on 22 major diseases.
Key Findings
- Environmental factors account for 17% of the variation in mortality risk, compared to less than 2% explained by genetic predisposition.
- Smoking, socioeconomic status, physical activity, and living conditions were the most influential factors on mortality and biological aging.
- Smoking was linked to 21 diseases, while socioeconomic status influenced 19 diseases, and physical activity affected 17 diseases.
- Early life exposures, such as maternal smoking and childhood body weight, had long-term impacts on health decades later.
- Environmental factors were especially significant in diseases affecting the lungs, heart, and liver, while genetic risks played a dominant role in dementia and breast cancer.
A Call for Policy and Behavioral Change
Professor Cornelia van Duijn, senior author of the study, emphasized the implications of these findings: “Our research underscores the profound health impact of environmental exposures that can be changed, either at an individual level or through public policies to improve socioeconomic conditions, reduce smoking, and encourage physical activity.”
Dr. Austin Argentieri, lead author of the study, highlighted the potential for interventions to enhance health outcomes: “By using an ‘exposome approach,’ we provide the most comprehensive overview to date of environmental and lifestyle factors driving aging and premature death.”
Aging Clock and Long-Term Health Monitoring
The study utilized a novel biological “aging clock” based on blood protein levels to monitor how rapidly people age. This measure was previously validated in large cohort studies from China and Finland and helped researchers link environmental exposures to early mortality and biological aging.
Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, emphasized the urgent need for policy changes: “Your income, location, and background should not determine your chances of a long and healthy life. This study reinforces the reality that too many people face barriers to good health that can and should be addressed through bold government action.”
Future Research and Public Health Implications
The researchers advocate for continued study into environmental and lifestyle influences, especially in the context of modern threats such as emerging pathogens and chemical exposures. Professor van Duijn stressed the importance of advancing smart technologies for real-time monitoring of environmental impacts on health.
The study was a collaboration between Oxford Population Health, the University of Oxford’s Departments of Psychiatry and Anthropology, Massachusetts General Hospital, the Broad Institute in Boston, the University of Amsterdam, Erasmus University in Rotterdam, and the University of Montpellier, with technical support from the China Kadoorie Biobank team.
These findings provide crucial insights into the role of lifestyle and environment in shaping health outcomes, offering opportunities to design effective public health interventions and strategies to promote longevity and reduce the risk of chronic diseases globally.
Story Source:
Materials provided by University of Oxford. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
- M. Austin Argentieri, Najaf Amin, Alejo J. Nevado-Holgado, William Sproviero, Jennifer A. Collister, Sarai M. Keestra, Midas M. Kuilman, Bigina N. R. Ginos, Mohsen Ghanbari, Aiden Doherty, David J. Hunter, Alexandra Alvergne, Cornelia M. van Duijn. Integrating the environmental and genetic architectures of aging and mortality. Nature Medicine, 2025; DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-03483-9
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