To what degree does genetics dictate lifespan as compared to health awareness?

My input favors health awareness.
My opinion is based on my older brother dying at the age of 45 from alcoholism. Mother age 55 smoking leading to COPD & death. Father smoking, drinking took him at age 61. Next youngest brother smoking, emphysema age 62. Youngest brother smoking emphysema age 60.

Me stopped smoking 57 years ago, don't drink except for a rum & coke occasionally. Healthy diet not fad or any special diet just plain old balanced diet. Exercise daily in some form or another. Only stress was recently the spike in my blood pressure. Other than that I don't remember being stressed.

Age now 81 with the expectancy now that my blood pressure spike shows no reason for having spiked to have several more years left.
 

Of my four grandparents, none lived beyond 57. They had untimely ends (silicosis, suicide, type 1 diabetes) so I can only look to my parents, who really did nothing in excess. My dad made it to 76 (yikes! uncomfortably close!), my mom to 94.

So, naturally, I decided that I *must* being carrying my mom's health genes. This in spite of the fact that physically I'm very much like my dad, except bigger/taller as one would expect from 2nd gen in the US. Pretty much I do moderation, also.

So far, the stuff on my dad that gave out, is also giving out on me at about the same age.

So we'll see.
 
Sawfish said:
To what degree does genetics dictate lifespan as compared to health awareness?
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Probably some of both, along with a bit of luck thrown in.

My great-grandfather lived to 102.

My grandfathers to 95 and 99.

My parents to 77 and 85.

Seems headed in the wrong direction!! The one who took best care of her health was my mother who died at 77.
 
That's a good question, some centenarians swear that indulging in the vices we're told will shorten our lives, helped prolong theirs. And some who felt they were living healthy lifestyles died young or became inflicted with serious diseases.
 
I think it's a minor indicator. Dad's side of the family died of heart disease or cancer at early ages. The MEN did, I should say. The ladies fared better, somewhat. Mom's side of the family ate much healthier and did live longer.
Do what makes the most sense for you, I guess, and what fits your lifestyle because being health conscious IS a lifestyle choice.
 
chic said:
I think it's a minor indicator. Dad's side of the family died of heart disease or cancer at early ages. The MEN did, I should say. The ladies fared better, somewhat. Mom's side of the family ate much healthier and did live longer.
Do what makes the most sense for you, I guess, and what fits your lifestyle because being health conscious IS a lifestyle choice.
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The same difference was seen in our family. It must be remembered that back in the day the men smoked and drank beer, the ladies didn't smoke and only occasionally partook of a beer shandy.
 
Sure genetics play an important part, but like talent, you have to work at it!

I believe a whole package is involved here. Our wellness comes not just from physical health but from the mind, body and spirit connection. The main concept behind the mind-body-spirit connection is that we are all more than just our thoughts. We are also our bodies, our emotions, and our spirituality … all these things combine to give us identity, determine our health, and make us who we are.
 
Suspect I have had long telomeres at the end of my genes. Eventually they shorten and we all age then pass into eternity.

A major factor in beyond middle age aging, science in the future is likely to figure out in order to increase lifetimes and long term adult fitness. Expect that telomeres were one of the first things ancient aliens if they visited Earth as I lean towards, may have worked on in order to create a special human genetic line from ordinary humans into the line of Adam and Eve that lived many centuries and lasted for millennia until recessive dilution mating with ordinary humans.

Additionally in Genesis at the Garden of Eden if true, The Tree of Life, likely grew nutrient and medicine supplements beyond what they could directly DNA engineer that if consumed, greatly extended life beyond even Methusalah's 969 years. In our not so distant future decades, human science will be growing all manner of food and medicines by direct genetic design in plants and in vitro versus complex sequences of environmentally controlled test tubes etc now used.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telomere
 
Certain health conditions run in families, and there isn't a lot you can do about it. You hear of people who have smoked and drank all their adult lives but live to be over 100. Others live clean lives but die young.
As I have stated before, our world is heavily polluted and this seems to be the greatest threat to our health. Past generations didn't have to cope with all the chemicals which we are exposed to.
 
As always. Accidents happen. A virus doesn't care about your genetics, nor drunk driver or armed criminal.

I've know 85 year old smokers, my BIL brother died at 46, lung cancer. My younger sister didn't smoke drank sparingly and will easily outlive my older sister (still smoking) and I.

Seen a 75 year old weighing 400+ with no lung issues. Seen a guy whose weight is 99 lbs and he's 6' 4" he's got a medical issue with weight gain. So, do what you and doctor think is right.
 
Disgustedman said:
As always. Accidents happen. A virus doesn't care about your genetics, nor drunk driver or armed criminal.

I've know 85 year old smokers, my BIL brother died at 46, lung cancer. My younger sister didn't smoke drank sparingly and will easily outlive my older sister (still smoking) and I.

Seen a 75 year old weighing 400+ with no lung issues. Seen a guy whose weight is 99 lbs and he's 6' 4" he's got a medical issue with weight gain. So, do what you and doctor think is right.
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Yep, its pretty clear that average lifespan is impacted by things like smoking, weight, genetics, etc - however at the individual level that does always prove out. Its a statistical thing. A meteor could strike me dead before I get this posted, but statistically its pretty unlikely...

Y'all know about the statistician who drowned in a river that was on average only 3 feet deep...
 
Well, the men in my dads family had a history of heart problems. My brother too, All but one of dad's brothers died from heart attacks, my brother died after several heart surgeries about 30-40 years of his life.
So, genetics? Seems so.of the brothers died at 44, the others in 60s and 70s. The one brother with no heart issues died at 84 or 85,
 
2 of my grandparents lived beyond 70. Both parents and my brother next to me died in their late 60s. I had one great aunt who lived to the age of 99, and my two other siblings are now in their 70s.

My style of living in my wild youth certainly contradicts my reaching the age of 90.

Could be that I did remain active and rather athletic that has helped me to reach this age. Also, I may have been lucky enough to grab one of the longevity gene from each parent's side of the family. Who knows?
 
Knight said:
My input favors health awareness.
My opinion is based on my older brother dying at the age of 45 from alcoholism. Mother age 55 smoking leading to COPD & death. Father smoking, drinking took him at age 61. Next youngest brother smoking, emphysema age 62. Youngest brother smoking emphysema age 60.

Me stopped smoking 57 years ago, don't drink except for a rum & coke occasionally. Healthy diet not fad or any special diet just plain old balanced diet. Exercise daily in some form or another. Only stress was recently the spike in my blood pressure. Other than that I don't remember being stressed.

Age now 81 with the expectancy now that my blood pressure spike shows no reason for having spiked to have several more years left.
Click to expand...
I think you're exactly right. But it does help to have good genes.
 
My mother drank like a fish, ate a junk diet, and shunned doctors like the plague. Never had a Pap test, colonoscopy, or any suggested medical screenings. She made it to the age of 90.

Winston Churchill is reputed to have started each day with one of his trademark big cigars and a glass of brandy. He lived to a ripe old age, too.

I believe that your genes predispose you to certain disease states as well as longevity, but you can definitely sway the odds a bit by lifestyle choices.

I personally believe that I am never in greater danger of shortening my life than when I get behind the wheel of a car or ride in one as a passenger. I lost my first fiancée that way…
 
It’s clearly both. There are numerous examples just in the anecdotal information presented in this thread that showcase contradictions between lifestyle and longevity.

Our access to medical care has enabled us to mitigate a wide variety of health issues and situations that would have killed us a a few generations ago and has lengthened our lives. Juxtaposed against that is the mental health crisis and the addiction crisis and obesity crisis that is rampant, and that is shortening life.

Life is a series of checks and balances as far as I’m concerned. The game is to play one against the other so as to achieve the best possible outcome, which differs for each of us.
 

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