Doing so can add 5 years to life, regardless of genes, study says

Running may offset family illnesses, according to the first study of its kind.

A healthy lifestyle, which includes regular exercise, good sleep, not smoking and a healthy diet, can add more than five years to your life, according to a study published in the journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.

Some people’s genes put them at risk of early death, but the study found that a healthy lifestyle can counter someone’s genetics by 62%.

Researchers from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine, in China, and the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland, used data from more than 353,000 people. They analyzed their genetics, education, socioeconomic status, lifestyle and disease history.

People were given a polygenetic score, a score used to determine how certain genes affect life expectancy, and a score to determine how healthy their lifestyle was. They followed participants for an average of 13 years.

During this period, 24,239 deaths occurred.

The study found that people who lived an unhealthy lifestyle were 78% more likely to die early, regardless of genetic risk.

People who adhered to a healthy diet, took significant regular exercise, and never smoked increased their chances of living healthier, longer lives.

“Participants at high genetic risk could extend approximately 5.22 years of life expectancy to age 40 with a favorable lifestyle,” the authors wrote.

“Genetic and lifestyle factors were independently associated with life expectancy. Adhering to healthy lifestyles could largely mitigate the genetic risk of a shorter life expectancy or premature death. The ideal combination of healthy lifestyles could bring better benefits for a longer life, regardless of genetic background,” they concluded.