A large new study has reexamined the longstanding environment-vs-heredity debate, and came down firmly in the environment camp. Based on robust medical data from 490,000-plus people, all registered with the UK Biobank, the researchers studied the influence of genetics and over 100 environmental and lifestyle factors on the risk of 22 diseases that make up most of the major causes of death. They analyzed 25 environmental and behavioral exposures that contribute to disease and biological age, including income, neighborhood, employment status, marital status, education and diet, as well as whether people smoke or exercise regularly. To cover the genetic side, they analyzed people’s genomes, looking for markers associated with the 22 key diseases. The results were striking and make a strong case for preventative health and wellness. Environment and lifestyle accounted for 17% of people’s disease-related risk of dying, compared to just 2% for genetics.
READ the study
READ the summary in Time
