Aging depends on environment, not just genes: study shows how where we live influences our biological age
A new international study published in the journal Cell shows that the human aging process is not solely determined by genetics, but is also significantly influenced by the environment in which we live, including factors such as diet, pollution, lifestyle and access to medical services.
Aging depends on the environment, not just genes. PHOTO: Shutterstock
The research, cited by Science Alert, analyzed 322 people from several regions of the world and suggests that these environmental factors can influence the way genes are expressed and, by implication, the rate of biological aging.
“It's not just genes that matter, it's also where we live”
“For the first time we looked in depth at people from all over the world,” said Michael Snyder, a geneticist at Stanford University.
“We can see which traits are related to ethnicity and which are influenced by geography”he explained.
The study included people of European, East Asian, and South Asian descent, many of whom now live in different regions than where they came from, which allowed the researchers to compare the influence of genetics with that of environment.
How biological aging has been analyzed
The scientists not only analyzed the participants' DNA, but also a wide range of biomarkers, including gut microbiome, metabolism, proteins and immune system response.
The results confirm that genetic origin remains a stable factor regardless of where a person lives. For example, people of South Asian descent showed a more active immune response, and those of East Asian descent had different patterns of fat metabolism.
Environment Influences 'Biological Age'
One of the most important findings of the study was related to biological age—that is, the age of cells and tissues, not chronological age.
The researchers observed that:
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people of East Asian origin living outside of Asia show signs of faster biological aging;
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Europeans living in Europe have a different rate of aging than those in North America.
These differences are attributed to a combination of factors, including diet, pollution, stress, lifestyle and changes in the gut microbiome.
The role of the microbiome in aging
The researchers point out that the gut microbiome plays an essential role in these processes, influencing metabolism and biological processes associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes or neurodegenerative disorders.
In addition, certain gut bacteria have been linked to changes in lipids involved in maintaining telomeres—structures directly associated with the aging process.
No “hierarchies” between populations
Scientists caution that the results do not mean that a population “age better” than another, but that modern medicine must take into account both genetic inheritance and the environment in which each individual lives.
“It's clear that where we live can significantly influence how our cells age,” athe researchers explained.
The study concludes that aging is the result of a complex interaction between genetics and the environment, and these findings could lead to more personalized approaches in medicine in the future, adapted not only to DNA, but also to the lifestyle and where each person lives.
