Genes and lifestyle: how they jointly shape healthy aging

A new international study has shown that genetic predisposition does influence how lifestyle affects aging, but this influence is not one-sided—it interacts with lifestyle, socioeconomic factors, and individual habits.

The findings were published in The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.

Researchers focused on a concept known as “intrinsic capacity”—the combination of all physical and mental abilities a person uses throughout life to perform everyday tasks (such as self-care, communication, and social engagement). Maintaining these abilities is considered one of the key markers of healthy aging.

An analysis of data from more than 13,000 participants in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging revealed the following:

• Better functional ability in later life was associated with higher levels of physical activity, a healthier diet, higher education, employment, and social engagement.
• In contrast, smoking and irregular sleep patterns (both too little and too much sleep) were linked to a decline in intrinsic capacity.

Importantly, genetics modifies the strength of these behavioral and social influences. In other words, the same lifestyle can have different effects on health and functional abilities depending on a person’s genetic background.

The authors emphasize that this does not mean genes determine everything; rather, the way our bodies respond to habits, lifestyle, and socioeconomic conditions is partly shaped by genetic predisposition.

The researchers also noted that genetic influence was particularly evident in middle age (approximately 45–64 years), suggesting that accumulated life experience, lifestyle, and social conditions play an increasingly important role over time. Nevertheless, modifiable factors—such as diet, physical activity, and social involvement—remain crucial even for individuals with less favorable genetic profiles.

The study’s findings open the door to developing targeted prevention programs and public health strategies aimed at preserving functional abilities and improving quality of life in adulthood and older age.

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